Mumbai: Following the footsteps of Mumbai police, the Navi Mumbai police too have stepped up their efforts to curb speeding and bike racing. In the anti-speeding drive, Navi Mumbai police will be issuing a warning notice to bikers with high-end bikes and suspend their licences if found speeding or racing and flouting traffic rules.
The Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP), Sanjay Kumar, has directed the traffic police department to take stringent action against those race bikes on Palm Beach Road and the Sion-Panvel Highway, seen mostly during the weekends. The rising incidents of bike racing were raised at a police meeting as part of Raising Day, an annual event conducted in January, when police contact local residents to address their concerns regarding law and order.
The residents living in the neighbourhoods along these roads raised the issue of bike menace during the Raising Day meetings between January 2-8. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sunil Lokhande said, “We have been directed to gather the data of the motorcycles above 500cc and send them legal notices in advance, warning them of stern action on flouting rules. If after serving them notice, the bikers speed or race, their licences will be suspended.”
Police have begun data collection from the local Regional Transport Office (RTO) in compliance with the CP order. Navi Mumbai police will also instal new speedometers to track the speed and closely monitor bikers and motorists. A traffic policeman said the action was long overdue.
“The moment we reach the spot to book them, the bikers flee the spot. Since we do not have high-end motorcycles to match their speed, we become the butt of jokes and messages are circulated on social media against us,” said the cop.
Navi Mumbai cops have been getting over 10 calls on the weekends from the housing societies in the neighbourhood of Palm Beach Road in Nerul. The residents in Nerul and Vashi say they fear for their lives with the bike racing during the weekends. Nerul resident Parvathi Iyer, a homemaker, said, “I live in a society off Palm Beach Road and the weekends are a real nightmare.
It’s so scary, I cannot imagine sending my teenage son to buy groceries after 8pm, as the bikers speed past the pedestrians. The residents have made police complaints on several occasions, but to no avail. Unfortunately, it is impossible for them too to intercept the speedsters.”
