State rolls back ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy after backlash

After stiff opposition from the petrol pumps association to the state government’s proposed ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy, the transport department finally rolled back the decision on Friday.

Transport minister Diwakar Raote announced in the Assembly that, instead, if a rider isn’t wearing a helmet, petrol pump owners would then note down the number of his vehicle and report it to the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Mr Raote had announced last week that the traffic police has already started taking action regarding the ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy and it would be fully implemented within the next eight-10 days.

“The road safety committee appointed by the Supreme Court has demanded strict implementation of the Motor Vehicle Act. As per the Act, both the persons on a two-wheeler must wear helmets. Even though wearing helmets on two-wheelers is compulsory in the state, many people do not abide by the rule. Providing fuel to people not wearing helmets indirectly encourages them not to follow the law. Therefore the ‘no helmet, no fuel’ decision has been taken,” the minister had said in the statement.

However, the petrol pumps association took strong objection to the decision and threatened to go on strike from August 1.

A meeting was held between the association and the minister, and the decision was kept on hold till Friday.

Opposition party NCP also objected to the ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy and demanded that the government rethink its decision.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured the NCP that he would convey the message to the transport minister, who would rethink the decision.