Maharashtra goes back on ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy

Under the government’s ‘no helmet, no fuel’ rule, petrol pumps were strictly advised to not give fuel to drivers without helmets.

Petrol pump owners had strongly opposed the state government’s ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy, which was to be implemented from August 1.

In the face of opposition onslaught, the Maharashtra government has decided to go back on its ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy, which it had introduced last month to instill the discipline of wearing helmets among two-wheeler riders.

Instead, the state government has decided to make it mandatory for all fuel pumps to report vehicle numbers to transport authorities whenever they come across a two-wheeler rider not wearing a helmet, but after giving them petrol.

Under the government’s ‘no helmet, no fuel’ rule, petrol pumps were strictly advised to not give fuel to drivers without helmets.

State Transport Minister, Diwakar Raote said, “The system of petrol pumps giving such information to Regional Transport Offices and Deputy Regional Transport Offices will be established by the concerned officers.”

Petrol pump owners had strongly opposed the state government’s ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy, which was to be implemented from August 1. The state government discussed the issue in the state legislative assembly last week and decided to keep the policy on hold till August 5.

Following discussions with petrol pump owners, the government ultimately decided to drop the idea but create a monitoring mechanism to ensure that two-wheeler riders compulsorily wear helmets.