The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No escaping helmets, counselling from tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No escaping helmets, counselling from tomorrow

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 16. With the 10-day recess over, counselling for two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets will begin on Thursday. But there is one consolation for those summoned for counselling.

If they buy the helmet on the same day and produce it before the police, the seized documents would be returned and the `ordeal' of attending the counselling session could be avoided. "We shall return the documents immediately," the traffic police chief, Tejdeep Kaur Menon, told The Hindu .

Reduced price

Wary of criticism over shortage of headgear in market, arrangements are being made to organise a week-long `helmet mela' from November 19 at the Institution of Engineers in Khairatabad.

An estimated 1.5 lakh helmets would be made available in the city at any given day. Helmet prices are expected to slashed at the mela with the Government announcing sales tax exemption for a limited period.

The Government had already issued a GO (No. 931, dated November 11), stipulating that the tax exemption will be applicable till March 31, 2005. Traffic police believe this would add strength to the helmet campaign they began a couple of months ago. A `May I Help You' counter of the traffic police would be set up at the mela. People having any problem with helmet sellers can call on telephone numbers 1073 or 27852482.

The police have also made slight changes in the implementation of helmet rule. Women and moped riders would be exempted from being summoned to counselling sessions. The number of counselling centres have been reduced to seven from the earlier 14. While counselling centres would work from Monday to Saturday, summons would be issued on three selective days of a week.

Only two sessions -- 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- would be held every day. The counselling programme would comprise exhibition of a 30-minute video film, a quiz and an introductory speech by a traffic police official.

Intensive drive

An intensive drive to check sale of helmets with forged ISI mark would also be launched. During the first phase, 12, 922 persons were summoned for counselling. While 9,001 attended the sessions, documents belonging to the remaining 3,921 are pending with traffic officials.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

No escaping helmets, counselling from tomorrow

HUDA to speed up land acquisition

Congress, TRS to slug it out for Mondabypoll

Seer's arrest: protests continue, fast observed

Connectivity snaps, eSeva services hit

Telugu Talli flyover saga to end finally

Court sets aside order on land allotment

Cuddupah Municipality upgraded

Andhra varsity alumni programme

In Hyderbad Today