Cashing in on the Vellore Police Department’s announcement making helmets compulsory for motorists from August 1, roadside helmet sellers are making the most of the opportunity in the Fort City.
Helmet sellers were found on all arterial roads, including the Arcot-Katpadi Road, Anna Salai and Vellore-Tiruvannamalai Road, doing brisk business after the police made it clear that helmets were compulsory for two-wheeler riders from July 27 and that the department would start collecting spot fines from August 1, if motorists failed to comply. Police said that a spot fine of `100 would be imposed for the first offense and `300 if the motorists were caught the second time.
In the last few days, the Vellore City has turned into a hub for roadside helmet sellers. Nearly 500 helmet vendors from different parts of the state and neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh and the northern states, have put up their makeshift stalls on either side of the arterial roads in the city.
“We came to know about the mandatory use of helmets for motorists in Vellore from August 1 through newspapers. So, we decided to make use of the opportunity to do some good business,” said Rahman of Tiruchi, who has been selling headgears along Arcot-Katpadi Road. He, along with five others, came to Vellore from Tiruchi last Friday.
“In the last three days, I have sold nearly 300 helmets ranging from `350 to `400. Several helmet sellers like me have also come here to cash in on the opportunity as there has been a good response from the motorists to the police announcement,” said Rahman.
More than 30 roadside helmet sellers were found on either side of the road from Green Circle to Vellore old bus stand, a stretch of less than a kilometre.
“I have sold nearly 200 helmets in the last three days, but today (Sunday), the business has come down a little bit and I have sold only around 60 helmets, the prices ranging between `350 to `500,” said 28-year-old Biju from north India.
A few of his friends have also come from other parts of Tamil Nadu to Vellore to make a quick buck, he said adding, “If the police department strictly implements the announcement, we will do good business in the coming days also.”
“I bought a helmet instead of paying a fine and, moreover, it involves personal safety,” said 28-year-old Vijay of Sathuvachari. His friends Raj and Vimal also aired the same view.
Police officials said that huge crowds at the helmet stalls in Vellore indicated that the initiative had succeeded.
Vellore Superintendent of Police I Eswaran, who recently assumed charge, had made it clear that one of his main priorities was regulating the traffic and bringing down the number of road accidents.
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