Residents bear brunt of deafening noise levels

Much to the chagrin of residents, bikers in the city seem to be riding high zipping across the city with altered silencers and shrill horns.

Even as the City Traffic Police have booked as many as 289 cases for defective silencers in 2017, they seem to be reluctant to act tough against the violators. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K N Madaiah said that the police are conducting raids to check vehicles with defective silencers and shrill horns. “As many as 289 bikers have been booked for defective silencers. We have not booked any mechanics for altering the silencer but when we detain the bikes, police seize the defective exhaust pipe,” the ACP said.

Madaiah said a fine of Rs 100 and Rs 500 is imposed for first and second time violations, respectively. “If the violation continues, we recommend cancellation of the vehicle’s registration certificate,” he said.

Residents, however, feel police need to do much more as the levels of noise pollution are deafening because it affects the health of children and senior citizens. A majority of the violators are youths who alter their bikes owing to latest fads.

Vidya, a resident of Kuvempu Nagar, said that she cannot rest at home during evening hours due to the unbearable sound of these modified two-wheelers. “Though the problem is rampant across the city, the police are ignoring the issue. I have seen police personnel standing as mute spectators even if they come across such violations. Police should be alert to check the menace,” she said.

Besides noise pollution, the menace is also creating health hazards among senior citizens and children as they are unable to get sound sleep at night. Lakshminarayan, a senior citizen near Hunsur Road, said that, “We can see the youths racing on the stretch at nights. Police should act tough against modified vehicles which violate norms. I have seen police personnel regularly checking the riders violating helmet rules. They must similarly act against altered silencers for the sake of residents.”

According to bike showroom owners, no alteration works are taken up in the service centres run by authorised dealers. “All modifications are done only in local garages. We only repair silencers and no alterations are done. We fix new silencers if customers  bring them on their own,” said a mechanic at a Royal Enfield bullet showroom.

Police have booked 562 bikes with defective silencers and 1,274 for shrill horns since 2013. The ACP urged people to alert the police if they come across vehicles with defective silencers. People can alert the police through social media — WhatsApp [phone]) Facebook or by logging on to www.mysorecitypolice.gov.in.