Berhampur: Throttling their bikes to make loud noise ‘vroom’ has become a fashion among some youths, most of whom purchase the bikes only to show off. This not only poses risk for other riders on the road, but scares elderly people, children and other pedestrians. Sometimes, this might prove fatal to the faint-hearted.
Just to show off, the offenders replace the original silencer fitted by the motorbike company with a noisy one that makes a thudding sound. Most of the time, other riders lose their balance because of the boom-boom of the bikes, resulting in accidents.
This thumping sound of the Royal Enfield motorbikes’ with modified silencer is no longer be music to locals here who demanded a special drive to fine the owners of these motorbikes for causing unnecessary noise pollution.
Irate senior citizens expressed resentment and demanded the police to take action against garage mechanics and bikers who alter bike silencers and shrill horns. The problem is now seen across the city. Senior citizens are unable to get peaceful sleep.
The horns created a discomforting sound that was above the permissible limit.
Many bikers are unaware that alteration of a factory model is illegal under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. While changes to exhaust pipes are not allowed, removing the catalytic convertor, a component fitted to the exhaust pipe is the easiest way to boost a bike’s ‘vroom’. Tuning the engine and changing the brake system is another method.
Earlier, in a special drive against Bullets with modified silencers, the town traffic police had fined some youths for installing noisy silencers post modification of the originals and left them with a warning. The action against bikers were taken under Section 119 and 190 (2) of Motor Vehicle Act.
The city has in the past few years seen rising number of Royal Enfield motorbikes with modified silencers for producing thumping sound while driving.
“If the police want to curb noise pollution, they should focus on bike garges which make alterations and spare parts shopkeepers who sell noisy Chinese silencers,” a local said.
“The youth and some groups who want to spread their tentacles in a particular area too are resorting to such types of growling silencers. We have taken action against them and will continue with the drive,” said Ganjam SP.
PNN
