Is district administration’s ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ campaign really effective in the cityIJ Probably the answer is ‘No’. Both petrol pump owners and customers could be seen violating the drive restarted on January 17.Ironically, it has become ‘No Helmet, Take Petrol’ concept visible in petrol pumps.At Diwan Kunj petrol pump in Kutchery, petrol servicemen said customers threaten them if they deny giving petrol without wearing helmets.
Similarly, at Shree Hari petrol pump near Plaza Cinema Hall, the petrol delivering men said they have not received orders from the owner to support the campaign. In Shakti petrol pump at Ratu Road, a poster stating ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ was put but it was not implemented.“As you can see, people are asking for petrol and we are giving them,” said the petrol delivering boy here. When the owner of this petrol pump was asked, he immediately ordered his colleagues to implement the rule.
Even at petrol pumps in Kadru and Kanke Service Centre, there was no poster or implementation of this campaign. Customers at Shakti petrol pump and Shree Hari petrol pump were unable to justify them when seen driving without helmet.“I always carry my helmet but cannot wear it while driving. There is no specific reason,” said a lady in one of these petrol pumps. Anshu Kumar near Shaheed Chowk said if he knew that such a campaign is going on he would have purchased a helmet and worn it.
However, at Akula Service Pump in Tharpakhna, delivery men denied supplying petrol to those without helmet. On one side, men riding with families on motorcycle left without taking petrol after being pointed, young girls took out their helmet from dikki, wore it and then took the petrol.“We are trying to encourage customers to wear helmet while driving and taking petrol. But, they lend helmet from others, wear it, take petrol and then return it to the same person,” said a petrol delivery boy at Kanke Service Centre.
Meanwhile, District Transport Officer Nagendra Paswan and Traffic Superintendent of Police YS Ramesh accepted that it will take time to implement the campaign in real sense.“Most youngsters fall prey to road accidents every month. In such circumstances, it will take time to make them realise the importance of wearing helmet. We are analyzing the effectiveness through CCTV recordings. A meeting on keeping an eye over the campaign will be held within three or four days,” said Paswan.
Ramesh who joined as the new Traffic SP on Saturday said he will call a meeting with all the petrol pump owners after three days and direct them for implementation of the campaign.