The implemented rule of Chhattisgarh Transport Department ‘No Helmet No Petrol’ rule at major urban parts appears to be failing its objective particularly in Raipur, Nawa Raipur and Bhilainagar as well as Durg, major urban parts of the state. Most of the helmetless drivers reach the petrol pump and make excuses, arguments or borrow helmets from other riders to avoid being caught for violating the rule. Even at some petrol pumps, the owners have made arrangements for helmets and allow helmetless drivers to wear them while refueling their vehicles and then hand them over to the staff. Students who are members of NSS in their colleges and universities and NGO workers conduct awareness drive at petrol pumps and traffic signal squares to aware people the use of helmets is very important for their own safety.

 

“We have found that people generally start arguing with the pump attendant for denying petrol. The transport officials should also conduct drives at petrol pumps. Issuing an order and assuming that people will follow it will not work on the ground,” pointed student of NSS in Pt Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur. A petrol pump manager Harish Kumar said that it is annoying to keep repeating the same request and face public ire. He also mentioned that “If we refuse to give petrol, the bike queue gets longer, and people start arguing. Our business is also affected if we refuse every second person.” Deepak Sharma, who also visited a petrol pump without wearing a helmet in Kota, Raipur said, “We are paying to get petrol. There is no point in forcing such a rule on us here. Traffic police are enough to issue a challan and enforce the rule.” A Transport department official said they are conducting a drive for compliance of the rule. But the moment anyone notices officials at petrol station, the helmetless driver simply flee.