Duliajan Crackdown Targets Helmetless Riders and Unauthorised Dealers
In a bid to improve traffic discipline and promote civic responsibility, transport authorities in Duliajan launched a road safety enforcement campaign this week. The district transport department led an intensive inspection drive, cracking down on unauthorised second-hand vehicle dealerships while addressing widespread non-compliance with safety regulations among local motorists. The campaign focused particularly on young two-wheeler riders travelling without helmets and vehicles operating without proper authorisation or safety certifications.
During the inspection, officials uncovered five second-hand vehicle dealerships operating without valid authorisation from the transport department. These establishments were promptly sealed, with authorities citing their violation of regulatory norms as a serious risk to road safety. The inspection covered documentation, sales permissions, and vehicle registration procedures. Officials stated that informal sale points often compromise buyer safety and legal transparency, underscoring the need for public awareness and adherence to vehicle resale laws. The crackdown signals a push towards formalising the used-vehicle sector and ensuring a safe, traceable vehicle ownership system in semi-urban regions like Duliajan. The enforcement team also shifted focus to the rising number of helmetless young riders, many of whom were found to be college students. Rather than penalise them with fines, officials adopted a more educational approach, requiring offenders to attend road safety awareness sessions.
This corrective action, they said, aims to build behavioural change and accountability, particularly among youth. Experts have repeatedly linked the lack of safety gear to rising accident fatalities in smaller towns, making this initiative a model of empathetic, reform-driven enforcement rather than punishment-centric policing. Beyond two-wheeler safety, inspections were extended to commercial and personal vehicles flouting transport norms. Several light and heavy vehicles were flagged for issues such as load violations and lapsed fitness certificates. Officials emphasised the need for regular vehicle maintenance and compliance with fitness standards to reduce mechanical failure-induced accidents. By addressing the structural loopholes that often go unchecked in smaller towns, the transport department aims to raise road safety to national standards while embedding public accountability at the local level.
This drive reflects a growing shift in India’s transport governance—one that balances enforcement with public engagement and long-term safety goals. Authorities said they will continue similar drives to ensure sustained impact. They also urged residents to cooperate and become active participants in road safety reform. As towns like Duliajan expand, such policy shifts could define the future of traffic regulation, where inclusivity, education, and sustainability converge to build safer and more equitable urban environments.
