Cuttack, Dec. 11: Police are planning to introduce "No Helmet, No Petrol" rule here from January 1.

Bargarh police introduced the concept on September 1. The cops had taken the civil society into confidence and launched a month-long awareness campaign in the town before enforcing the idea with the support of petrol pump owners.

"We will replicate the Bargarh model," said a senior police official.

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora said: "We are planning to launch an awareness campaign shortly to educate the petrol pumps employees not to provide gasoline to bike riders, who are not wearing helmets."

A meeting with the gas station owners and dealers will be held next week in this regard to ensure smooth implementation of the idea. "It's a small step to promote a sense of responsibility among the bike riders," he said.

Bargarh district superintendent of police Ashish Singh, the man behind the Bargarh model, said: "We have attained tremendous success. We have secured voluntary support from the petrol pump owners, because they are crucial to the implementation of this order."

A senior police official said that despite being termed as twin cities, motorists in Bhubaneswar were conscious and used helmets while riding two-wheelers. "But, similar practice is by and large missing in Cuttack city," he said.

Besides asking the petrol pump owners, the authorities are also planning to issue mandatory guidelines to traders to sell helmets as an additional accessory at the time of selling two-wheelers. "We are also planning to gift a helmet instead of collecting a fine of Rs 500 for not wearing them. Our effort is on to promote the use of helmets by bike riders on city roads," said P.K. Dalai, assistant commissioner of police (traffic).

He said Orissa High Court-appointed traffic management committee, headed by the police commissioner, had mooted such proposals last week.

"The proposal is likely to send a strong message, and people will be forced to carry helmets to the petrol pumps. The cops should ensure that the petrol pump owners and their staff members follow such directive in true spirit," said Biplap Das, a commuter.

However, a lot of people are sceptical about the successful implementation of such proposals in the city. "We are not sure whether the proposal will yield positive response as most people still think helmet is necessary while riding two-wheelers only on the national highway and not within the city limits, especially in Cuttack," said Tulasipur resident Sanjay Pradhan.

He said the police had introduced the concept of no-tolerance zone at Sati Choura. "But, there are maximum violations at the particular traffic junction due to poor infrastructure," he said.