Visakhapatnam: RTA to crack whip on bikers

Visakhapatnam: ‘Punjab’, ‘Indore’ and ‘Glass Wool’ seem like regular names — on the face of it — but they are actually the names by which modified silencers for motorcycles go.

Priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 10,000, they are a current rage with youngsters, but proving to be most irksome to the general public in their total disregard of decibel levels. This has impelled the Road Transport authorities to intervene.

“The incidence of altering silencers for a loud sound was very rare in the past, but now, more people, especially youngsters, are doing so unmindful of the noise pollution. We have taken this issue seriously and are planning to launch a special crackdown,” said deputy transport commissioner Venkateshwar Rao.

Though bikers could be charged under section 190 (2) of the  Motor Vehicles Act for improper modifications, no noticeable action has been taken by the police so far.

Meanwhile, retailers are making hay while the sun shines. A salesman at a motorbike spare parts store in Dwarka Nagar said, “We  keep a variety of silencers as there has been a huge demand for them in the last two years. The Punjab silencer is the loudest,” he added, missing the irony in his own words, “and youngsters prefer it best.”

E-tailers are not lagging behind in attracting buyers with hefty discounts on  silencers.

A genuine Bullet, made by Royal Enfield, has a silencer that purrs, its sound is well within the permissible limit, but people are increasingly going in for the Bullet with a roar as it grabs people’s attention and is considered a status symbol.

According to guidelines from the ministry of forests and environment, the noise limit for motorbikes, scooters and three-wheelers is 80 dB.