The Karnataka government on Wednesday presented the Bengaluru City Police with another 911 bikes to keep a check on criminal activities and to assist with increased patrolling, in addition to the existing 272 Maruti Suzuki Ertigas operating as Hoysala vehicles. The TVS Apache RTR-160 bikes that have been presented to the city police have cost the exchequer a sum of Rs 7.11 crore.
As opposed to cars, bikes can attend to crime scenes and access narrow roads faster.
Speaking at the event held in Vidhana Soudha, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said, “I hope the bikes will help the police in operating swiftly and will enhance their response to distress calls and chasing criminals, especially chain-snatchers,” adding that CCTV surveillance in the city will also be increased gradually.
He added, "For the police to perform their duties, there should be good infrastructure and facilities to support them. Many reports have been submitted in request of some development for the police department. Therefore, as a New Year gift, 911 motorbikes were given to them so that they can reach the scene of the crime on time and also avoid small incidents from turning into a big law and order situation."
A report in The New Indian Express said that these vehicles will be redistributed to 108 local jurisdictional police stations, 44 Traffic Police stations, two women police stations and other departments like the CIty Armed Reserve and Intelligence Division.
A report in October had said that these vehicles were to be inducted for replacing some of the existing yellow Bajaj Pulsar bikes with cheetah-like spots which were introduced 16 years ago. Although the bikes had been sanctioned at that time, their induction took time since they had to be fitted with mikes, sirens and other accessories like walkie-talkies.
Senior police officials said that with this, each police station will get five bikes. While police stations with greater jurisdictional area will get six bikes, relatively smaller ones will get four bikes.