Thiruvananthapuram: Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran has said that Transport Commissioner Tomin J. Thachankary’s directive on making helmet mandatory in petrol bunks would stay. Though the minister had earlier saidthat he would reconsider the directive if it caused inconvenience to the public, he gave the go-ahead to the decision on Saturday. Mr Saseendran said that the government was satisfied by the explanation given by Mr Thachankary.
He apprised the minister earlier that the decision was taken after convening a meeting with petrol pump owners and that it was aimed at reducing accidents. However, the minister made it clear that the new order will be implemented without causing any inconvenience to the public. As per the directive of the transport commissioner, the decision would be implemented from August 1 on a pilot basis in the corporation limits of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. If it was found successful it would be later extended to other districts in the future.
In April this year, the commissioner had issued an order to automobile firms to provide free helmets to those who purchase new two-wheelers. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the decision on the implementation of the new order would be taken after consultationwith the transport minister.
