`Dhoom Machalayee…': Vizag police destroy 630 modified silencers to combat stunt biking, noise pollution

Visakhapatnam: Police destroyed modified silencers of motorbikes in a bid to send a clear message to stunt bikers and traffic violators in Vizag. Over 630 modified silencers seized by Vizag traffic police were crushed under road rollers. Modified silencers are considered a status symbol, especially by Royal Enfield, Duke, and other high-end bikers. Several citizens had drawn the attention of the police about noisy bikes.

Vizag police commissioner Ch Srikanth said that they have formed special teams to crack down on all those vehicles that used modified silencers which resulted in noise pollution. The teams have seized modified silencers from over 600 motorcycles and the silencers were crushed. The aim behind destroying the modified silencers was that they can never be reused. Modified silencers have affected senior citizens, patients, and children, police added.

The use of modified silencers is aggravating the noise pollution and causing a lot of disturbance to the public in the city. The craze could be gauged from the fact that youngsters are now choosing silencer first before buying bikes, says an employee working with a bike spare part shop. Motorcycles were handed over to their owners only after the replacement of their original silencers. The vehicles were also impounded until their owners returned with original silencers and got those fitted, police said.

Police said that they have initiated action against such motorcyclists under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Most motorcycles seized were Pulsar, Royal Enfield, and a few other high-end bikes. Twelve youngsters were nabbed for bike racing and performing stunts on the beach road in Vizag city. "Based on the credible information, we have formed a special team to bust the bike racing. We have seized seven bikes, the police added," police said