HYDERABAD: After cars and bikes, the policemen in Hyderabad will now be seen riding a bicycle while on patrolling duty. Punjagutta police have launched the initiative with a single cycle. A similar scheme has been launched by Delhi police as well. The tagline for the cycles is ‘Reaching Every Corner’.
A constable on cycle, wearing a red helmet, was seen amidst traffic and received with much curiosity from the public. He did not even have any have a rain jacket. The patrolling duty for the constables will be from 10 am to 5 pm, and they will be expected to cover over 7 kilometres in a day. The bicycle is equipped with a first-aid kit, manpack, lathi, siren, LED light and water bottle, purchased for `4,800 with the monthly maintenance amount sanctioned to the station.
It is also learnt that no particular training or instructions have been provided to the constable on the cycle. However, it is reported that only physically fit people will be asked to do patrolling by cycle. S Ravindar, Inspector Punjagutta, said patrolling men on cycles would increase visibility as well as mobility in narrow lanes and street corners, where patrol cars and bikes can otherwise not reach.
“This is a first time in the city and we have started with one bicycle. The results are good. In the next couple of days, we will increase the number to four, making the total no of patrol bicycles to five.” he said.
Ravindar further said that there were many colonies, lanes and bylanes, which were not accessible to patrolling vehicles and the bicycle patrols will fill this gap. These bicycles are specially brought into cover the under-accessed areas and will not be asked to cover the main roads. The police say that it will help them make an eye contact with the public and improve the access that the public has to them. This will be more effective when there are traffic jams or huge crowd movements.