By Alex Guite
LAMKA, October 29: Come November 1, all two wheeler owners in Churachandpur district should have to fish out their old or new helmets just to ride their two wheelers as the Churachandpur district administration had enforced that all two wheeler riders should wear helmets.
According to the District Transport Officer Churachandpur, the number of two wheelers has increased by 3682 vehicles in between 2007 and 2012 in the district.
Meanwhile, the district is witnessing a few interesting development in the run up to the November 1 deadline.
Several two wheeler owners have seen the development as a much needed exercise have said, “So far so good”, but they also added that the exercise would be even better if helmets with only ISO certification are accepted and if the order would also take into account the pillion riders who are at a greater risk than the drivers.
In anticipation of the big day several shops had changed their business strategies by adding helmets to their list of items. A few days ago, you go to your pan shop to have your share of pan, but now chances are that you can come out with a shining helmet from your pan shop provided you had the bucks to fish out.
Helmets are seen everywhere in Churachandpur as every shop from pan shops to stationary stores are selling helmets.
Meanwhile concerning the appeals for allowing only ISO marked helmets, the CCpur SP, Haokip said that though it is desirable that the authorities should also check the quality of the helmet, taking into account the buying power of two wheeler riders, it would not be feasible to insist only on ISO marked helmets.
The SP Mangkhogin Haokip in collaboration with the C T Lian had held a two wheeler motor rally on October 27 in the district with the objective to create an awareness of the initiative of the district administration.
Shops selling motor parts are not to be left behind. Niangboi, a motor part seller said, “On average we are selling 20 to 30 helmets daily though there is a time when we sell less or more”, before adding that they are ordering ten times more their usual order. One thing that is laudable of the shopkeepers, though, is that they don`t` try to monopolize the price but happy to sell more due to the rise in demand.
It seem CCPur is game for the road police and as the `Khans are to Bollywood` so is `helmet to the two wheel owners/riders` who till now are responsible for majority of road related accidents. So the bottom line is `cover your head coz` the cops (not the moral cops) are after you`.