Puducherry police intensify enforcement of helmet rule

Mixed response to strict helmet rule enforcement in Puducherry from January 12, 2025, with police issuing e-challans and rewards.

There has been a mixed response to the government’s decision to strictly enforce helmet rule in Puducherry from Sunday (January 12, 2025).

After several failed attempts, Home Minister A Namassivayam in December last year, had announced the government’s decision to strictly enforce the rule from January 12 citing the spike in fatal accident cases involving two-wheeler riders and also because of the directions from the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to enforce road safety rules in the Union Territory. 

On the first day of the enforcement of the rule on Sunday, many motorists could be seen on Puducherry roads riding their two-wheeler wearing helmet. Special squads of the police were deployed in select areas, especially in accident-prone road stretches declared as ‘Mission Zero Fatality-Priority Corridors.’

The main focus of police seems to be on Puducherry-Cuddalore, Puducherry-Villupuram, Puducherry-Chennai and Puducherry-Thirukkanoor roads for enforcement of the rule. Also, there was substantial presence of police in junctions at Ariankuppam, Kudapakkam, Marapalam and Shivaji Statue.

Police personnel could be seen issuing e-challan to motorists for not wearing the head-gear. The police also pasted sticker carrying the message ‘Wear helmet save life,’ on the vehicle of those riders who were not wearing the head-gear. Flowers and gifts were gifted to those wearing the helmet.

“There has been a visible change in the attitude of two-wheeler riders. Many riders were seen wearing helmets on Sunday. We have rewarded those wearing helmet with flower and those not adhering to the rules have been booked. Last year, we issued 32,000 e-challans and 1, 417 e-challans in past 11 days. The rule will be enforced more vigorously, including recommending the Transport Department for license suspension,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Praveen Kumar Tripathi told The Hindu.

Special teams would be deployed in front of government offices, university, colleges, educational institutions, industrial estates and private firms. Around 2,00 helmets were distributed to students selected through competitions. The department would be encouraging individuals and business establishments to donate helmet for the needy and deserving people, Mr. Tripathi said.