Fancy bikes add to noise pollution, traffic cops mum

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Law prohibits mechanical modification of vehicles to increase exhaust sound Kathmandu, July 20 Motorcyclists, who enjoy revving up engines
on the streets, have added to noise pollution in Kathmandu valley, but traffic police are least concerned about this nuisance. Traffic
police have effectively enforced the ban on honking in Kathmandu valley, but it seems that they are reluctant to take action against
motorcyclists who get the silencers of their bikes mechanically modified and contribute to increasing noise pollution in the capital. The
number of youths using fancy bikes has increased in recent years
Some fancy bikes have factory-made brutal exhaust sound, but some motorcyclists get the silencers of their motorbikes modified for loud
exhaust sound. Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act strictly prohibits any mechanical modification of vehicles to increase exhaust
sound or for any other purposes. In June 2017, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division had decided to take action against mechanically modified
vehicles, but, many youths are still riding such motorbikes openly on the roads of Kathmandu valley. Spokesperson for MTPD Superintendent of
Police Rabi Kumar Poudel claimed that they were taking action against bikers using manipulated exhaust sound on a regular basis. However,
MTPD has no official record of those who faced the music for manipulating the exhaust sound of their bikes. Head of MTPD SSP Basant Kumar
Pant said, &Although we have not started any crack down on such motorists, we have not turned a blind eye to this problem either
Pant also said that in most of the cases excessive noise was the result of revving up the engine for which we could not take any legal
action. & We can take action if a motorist has mechanically modified the silencer,& he added. MTPD booked 30,027 persons for needless
honking till February end this year. Of the 3,539,518 vehicles registered in the country, 71.5 per cent are motorbikes. A total number of
2,530,722 bikes were registered with the Department of Transport Management as of mid-March this year. The post Fancy bikes add to noise
pollution, traffic cops mum appeared first on The Himalayan Times.