Helmets a must in Camp from today

To begin with,the authorities plan to monitor implementation of the rule from 10 am at three locations within PCB limits – junction opposite Ghorpadi Police Station,RSI-Circuit House junction and near Council Hall on the road towards Southern Command Headquarters. LMA authorities said for the first four days,the agencies will be carrying out the role of educating the masses and that entry into the cantonment will not be denied during this period. Strict implementation and denial of entry to bikers without helmets is likely to start by Wednesday. But entry will not be denied in case for emergencies.

Brigadier M S Jaswal,Deputy General Officer Commanding,(Dy GOC) Pune Sub-Area and President,PCB told The Indian Express,”The whole idea is to educate people. People must understand that helmet is being made compulsory for their own benefit and we personally have nothing to gain out of this.” While urging civilians to wear helmets for their own safety,Army authorities have taken steps to ensure that their own persons strictly adhere to the rulebook. “Defence personnel without helmets will be dealt with under military law,” Jaswal said.

There are 39 entry and exit points. The authorities have adopted an approach of appreciation as well as caution for bikers wearing/ not wearing helmets. On Friday,50 NCC cadets distributed 2,000 roses to bikers who were seen wearing helmets. The group will continue to distribute roses over the next four days.

On Saturday,teams of four to five personnel will be stationed at the above mentioned locations. “Those not wearing helmets will be educated and those who do will be appreciated. We also plan to take videos of the locations where it is being implemented. To start with we have chosen three locations,which will be changed over the next few days. We plan to go step by step before implementing it across Pune Camp,” an official said. Earlier,there were talks of challans being cut and fines being charged for not wearing helmets. But the LMA officials ruled out the possibility saying,”The purpose is to educate and not force. Denial of entry is enough to deter them from not wearing helmets.”

Incentive: Discount coupons on insurance policy

There is a good news for those who will wear helmets. Every time you pass through the Pune Camp wearing a helmet,you can earn a coupon of Rs 5 which will give you a discount in your insurance premium. The coupons have been created by The Rotary Club of Pune Central along with Bajaj Allianz. Starting Saturday,the coupons will be distributed by NCC cadets at various locations within Pune Camp.

“We have printed 10,000 such coupons of Rs 5 each. Every time a commuter passes through the Pune Camp area wearing a helmet,he will be given the coupon as a token of appreciation. The total amount of the number of coupons thus collected over a period will amount to the discount one can get while buying an insurance policy or even renewing it,” said Ajay Aggarwal,chairman,Traffic Committee of the Rotary Club of Pune Cantral. The Club had implemented the same scheme with Pune police last year.