No brakes on drag racing in city

No brakes on drag racing in city
BY AMIT S. UPADHYE
BENGALURU







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Drag racing, once a common sight in the city’s central business district, has now shifted to the outskirts, espe- cially on the NICE Link Road
For them, it is a race with the time. As the clock strikes 12 in the night, the city’s drag racers are ready to hit the roads with their motorbikes.

For over a decade, drag racing is going unchecked in and around Bengaluru and more youths are taking a fancy for it.

The death of Mohammed Mukarram has once again brought into the spotlight the issue of drag racing. Additional commissioner of police (traffic and security) Pravin Sood said drag racers will be dealt with seriously and police is thinking of confiscating their vehicles and cancelling their licence.

“A number of instances occur in the weekends where racers in a bid to avoid the police, lose their balance. The racers not only risk their lives but also put innocent peoples’ lives in danger,” IGP Sood added.

Drag racing, once a common sight in the city’s central business district, has now shifted to the outskirts but there are a few ‘groups’ who speed on city roads.

For instance, after the traffic police came down heavily on drag racers and booked cases against nearly 20 youngsters on the Intermediate Ring Road last year, the scene has shifted to the outskirts especially on the NICE Link Road and Bellary Road. But after the opening of the international airport which led to an increase in traffic and the toll on using the NICE Road, the racers’ new turf is the HAL Airport Road at midnight and early morning.

Traffic police is now contemplating action against drag racers after one youth accidentally entered a defence compound and was shot dead. But drag racers are asking for their space to vroom.

“Drag racing is a sport and we want it to be legal. Sadly, Bengaluru never supported this and Speed Run was shifted to Hyderabad from Bengaluru,” said Sheky, a regular racer.

“Since bike racing is noisy, more racers are now opting for cars by modifying them. The energy boosters are purchased from Mumbai and the favourite roads are Mysore Road and Tumkur Road. The stretch between Bidadi and Mandya on Mysore Road and Nelamangala toll gate and Dobspet on Tumkur Road are regular hangouts for car racers,” said G.K. another racer.

A few racers say injuries and crashes are common in such a form of racing, but most never come to light because of the fear of police.

Four years ago, a girl died after coming under a lorry when she was riding pillion with a drag racer on MG Road opposite Raheja Towers.