Nagpur : Two-wheeler riders and pillion riders visiting the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in Nagpur city, east, and rural areas are now required to wear helmets, as the RTO has made it mandatory. Failure to comply with the rule will result in necessary action being taken, according to RTO (Nagpur city and rural) Rajabhau Gite’s announcement on Wednesday.
In a meeting chaired by Gite, Deputy RTO Ravindra Bhuyar, ARTOs Ashfaq Ahmed, Sneha Medhe, Harshal Dake, motor vehicle inspectors, and assistant MVIs were directed to enforce the rule. Transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar had previously declared in April that helmets would be mandatory for two-wheeler riders visiting all government offices throughout the state.
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While this is not the first time such a mandate has been issued by the transport department, previous attempts to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act provision were not successful. Ironically, department employees and drivers of four-wheelers within the transport department were seen neglecting safety measures, such as riding without helmets or not wearing seatbelts.
To ensure compliance, caution boards explicitly stating the helmet rule have been installed at the entrance gates of all three RTO offices located in Nagpur city (Amravati road), the east office at Chikhli (Kalamna), and the rural office near Lal Godam (Kamptee Road).
RTO Rajabhau Gite emphasized that as per Section 129 of the Motor Vehicle Act, both the rider and pillion rider are obligated to wear helmets while using motorcycles in public places. Violating this rule, as per Section 194D of the Motor Vehicle Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, is a punishable offense when riding a motorcycle in a public place without a helmet.
Gite issued a warning to all employees of the three RTO offices, stating that action will be taken against anyone found violating the helmet rule. The primary objective behind this strict implementation is to reduce fatalities resulting from head injuries in road accidents, as stated by ARTO Harshal Dake.
The mandatory helmet rule at Nagpur RTO offices aims to promote road safety and protect the lives of two-wheeler riders and pillion riders. It is essential for all visitors to adhere to this requirement while visiting the transport department offices to ensure their safety and comply with the law.
