MUMBAI: The Royal Enfield Bullet, which used to be the unmistakable sign of an approaching policeman for nearly three decades, is being phased out from the city police's fleet. The mean machines are being replaced by the light-weight new age bikes, which the cops claim are easy to negotiate in heavy traffic and do not cause backache.
The number of Bullets has now been reduced to just 80 from 650 in the 1980s. Police officers said that of these, only 50 are in working condition. "Many who used Bullets have been complaining of backache or finding it hard to ride in heavy traffic. The government last purchased Bullets in 2000," a police officer said.
The police force now prefers bikes that require less maintenance like Avenger and Pulsar (Bajaj), Achiever and CBZ (Hero Honda), Yamaha and Ferro (Suzuki). "Early this month, the Mumbai traffic police got its first lot of cruiser bikes. Of the 177 bikes for which orders have been placed, the police got 75 and the rest have been given to traffic police chowkies all over the city. The department also got 40 Achievers and 42 CBZs," the officer said. Some of the bikes will be given to the police stations to be used by crime branch personnel. "These bikes have self-start and are easy to maintain," an IPS officer said.
Deputy commissioner of police (Motor Transport) Kishore Joshi said, "There is a huge demand for lighter bikes as their pickup is faster, they are low maintenance and easy to ride in a city like Mumbai." A committee comprising personnel from the motor transport wing too had recommended few years ago that Bullets be replaced.
While some inspectors with the traffic department said they preferred the trendy bikes, others stood by the good old Bullet. "The government does not spend on maintenance of Bullets. The reasons for phasing out Bullets are not valid," they said.
Sajid Sayyed, an expert on vintage bikes, said, "Bullets have to be maintained properly, considering that cops use it roughly. Their pickup is slow, which is an impediment when you are fighting criminals on the streets."
The number of Bullets has now been reduced to just 80 from 650 in the 1980s. Police officers said that of these, only 50 are in working condition. "Many who used Bullets have been complaining of backache or finding it hard to ride in heavy traffic. The government last purchased Bullets in 2000," a police officer said.
The police force now prefers bikes that require less maintenance like Avenger and Pulsar (Bajaj), Achiever and CBZ (Hero Honda), Yamaha and Ferro (Suzuki). "Early this month, the Mumbai traffic police got its first lot of cruiser bikes. Of the 177 bikes for which orders have been placed, the police got 75 and the rest have been given to traffic police chowkies all over the city. The department also got 40 Achievers and 42 CBZs," the officer said. Some of the bikes will be given to the police stations to be used by crime branch personnel. "These bikes have self-start and are easy to maintain," an IPS officer said.
Deputy commissioner of police (Motor Transport) Kishore Joshi said, "There is a huge demand for lighter bikes as their pickup is faster, they are low maintenance and easy to ride in a city like Mumbai." A committee comprising personnel from the motor transport wing too had recommended few years ago that Bullets be replaced.
While some inspectors with the traffic department said they preferred the trendy bikes, others stood by the good old Bullet. "The government does not spend on maintenance of Bullets. The reasons for phasing out Bullets are not valid," they said.
Sajid Sayyed, an expert on vintage bikes, said, "Bullets have to be maintained properly, considering that cops use it roughly. Their pickup is slow, which is an impediment when you are fighting criminals on the streets."
source : times of india
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