NELLORE: The district collector, Himanshu Shukla, has instructed police to prevent two-wheeler riders without helmets from entering Nellore city as part of a set of measures aimed at reducing road accidents and improving post-crash care, officials said on Tuesday.
Enforcement at city entry points
At a road safety committee meeting, the collector and SP Dr Ajitha Vejendla directed officials to intensify enforcement at all entry points to the city and concentrate efforts on locations identified as accident-prone. The administration told traffic authorities to tighten checks and take steps to deter illegal riding and helmet non-compliance.
- Two-wheeler riders without helmets will not be permitted to enter Nellore city, the collector instructed.
- Enforcement will be stepped up at major entry points and accident hot spots, officials said.
- Municipal and police agencies were ordered to remove road-margin encroachments at key junctions.
Infrastructure and monitoring measures
Shukla called for physical and technological interventions to improve road safety. The measures listed at the meeting included installation of speed breakers, application of reflective markings and deployment of CCTV cameras to detect wrong-route driving on highways. Officials were also asked to improve signage at toll gates and truck lay-bys and to identify suitable parking spaces for private travel buses.
| Measure | Purpose / Location |
|---|---|
| Speed breakers | Accident-prone stretches |
| Reflective lane/junction markings | Night visibility on highways |
| CCTV cameras | Detect wrong-route or hazardous driving |
| Remove road-margin encroachments | Madras Bus Stand, RTC, Atmakur Bus Stand, Stonehousepet |
Post-crash care and incentives
The collector said the Good Samaritan incentive for those who assist accident victims during the crucial "golden hour" has been increased from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000. In addition, accident victims admitted to hospitals will be eligible for free treatment up to ₹1.50 lakh under the government scheme, the meeting noted.
Officials said the collector directed departments to resolve the issues discussed at the meeting and submit an action-taken report at the next review.
The administration specifically named several junctions where encroachment removal was to be prioritised: Madras Bus Stand, RTC, Atmakur Bus Stand and Stonehousepet. Municipal corporation and traffic police were tasked with clearing road margins and identifying parking for private travel buses to reduce roadside congestion, which officials said contributes to accidents.
Officials present at the meeting were asked to produce a progress report for the next review so that steps could be monitored. The collector emphasised coordinated action between the municipal corporation, traffic police and other departments for implementation.
There was no timeline given in the meeting communique for full enforcement of the helmet restriction at city entry points, nor did officials provide a schedule for installation of the suggested infrastructure measures. The directive places responsibility on local authorities to prepare and submit an action-taken report ahead of the subsequent review, according to the meeting record.
The measures combine enforcement, infrastructure changes and incentives for bystander assistance. Residents and commuters using two-wheelers are likely to be directly affected by the helmet-entry rule; the administration will need to communicate enforcement start dates and locations to ensure compliance and avoid disruption.
