VISAKHAPATNAM: Inspired by films and TV programmes, a group of youngsters are performing dangerous bike stunts and holding bike races on public road, putting their own lives at risk.
The coastal stretch from Tenneti park to Bheemili has become a safe turf for adventurous city youngsters, who scorn traffic rules and perform dangerous bike stunts, during the night hours under the cover of darkness. According to sources, groups of college students from some prestigious colleges in the city frequent the area at night, where they drink and race or take part in dangerous stunts as part of thrill-seeking. Sources said there are some college students who conduct bike races along the coastal stretch during night hours.
Hyperspin, called a 360 degree stunt here and stoppie wheelies, in which the front or back wheel of the bike is raised, in a sitting or standing position, are said to be the common stunts performed by the youngsters on city roads, with the top spots being the Beach Road leading to ISKCON temple, Jodugulapalem, Ramanaidu Studios, Rushikonda and the stretch near Bheemili town.
Adding to this, there are many liquor shops dotting the Beach Road, which offer round-the-clock partying space for youngsters, enabling them to guzzle down drinks before taking off on their bikes.
Though the marine police conduct regular patrolling during night hours, youngsters are aware of the timings and arrive at the spot immediately after the patrol party leaves, usually around 11 pm. It is after that that the youngsters go berserk, throwing caution to winds as they indulge in risky daredevil feats. There are several check points like Visalakshi Nagar Lane and Sagar Nagar where police conduct regular vehicle checks to curb drunk driving. With the police concentrating in these areas, the youth have shifted base to the Bheemili stretch, where they can frolic without fear of police interference.
A pan shop owner on the stretch near IT SEZ said that students on super bikes frequent the area during night hours. “They enter the beach area and hold booze parties during night time. After finishing their party, they come to the road and perform bike stunts which usually go on into the wee hours. They also conduct bike races,” the shop keeper added.
N Ramaraju, a resident of Bheemili said that the police patrolling team leaves the area by 11 pm, and thereafter it is the partying youth that rule the streets.
Sources added that generally youngsters select isolated places for parties and conduct bike races with betting. While no cases have been filed in connection with such incidents, the alarming activity is going unchecked.