Despite a ban that had been issued earlier this month, our reporter found some glaring examples of this violation on the very premises of the city magistrate's office.
Although the transport department of Gautam Budh Nagar had recently passed an order on removing bull bars from vehicles, many government-owned vehicles are still seen sporting these fittings in the district.
When City Spidey visited the office of the city magistrate in Sector 19, we found some glaring examples of this violation. Two vehicles with the number plates UP13AV1192 and UP75T4245 still had bull bars on them. These bars were also found on a white Mahindra Bolero sporting the initials of a sub-divisional magistrate, and on a Maruti Swift Dzire with a "Bharat Sarkar" label.
The transport department has not taken any action against the vehicles that are still plying on the roads with bull bars.
When City Spidey spoke to BN Singh, district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, about the issue, he said that all government-owned vehicles would be scrutinised and made to remove the banned fittings. He added that vehicles entering Gautam Budh Nagar from other districts would also have to comply with this order.
According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, if you are caught driving a car with these fittings, you will be fined Rs 1,000. And if you are caught repeating the same offence, a fine of Rs 2,000 will be levied. A person who trades in these accessories can also attract a fine of up to Rs 5,000.
Bull bars are fitted in front of vehicles to prevent damage in case of collisions. Ironically, these very fittings pose a serious threat to the safety of both passengers inside the vehicle and any pedestrian or vehicle they do happen to collide with. The act of fitting bull bars is in contravention of Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 and attracts a penalty under Section 190 and 191 of the Act.
Arunendra Pandey, the ARTO of Gautam Budh Nagar, assured City Spidey that all government officers would soon remove bull bars. “Most of the officials were not aware of the order,” he added.
Pandey also said that by the end of this week, the transport department would start a drive to identify the cars that had not yet complied with the order and a penalty would be levied on them.
