Small fine for a smooth ride

HYDERABAD: With a couple of bikes entering the Outer Ring Road via Gachibowli chowrasta, I was caught in two minds. I had previously seen signboards, warning off  two-wheelers and three-wheelers from this route that leads to the Shamshabad airport. But on Tuesday even when I made a conscious effort, I couldn’t find any. As there were no traffic cops either in the vicinity, the thought of a ride on the famous Nehru Outer Ring Road was simply irresistable.Indeed, the eight-lane path was inviting. Anybody would love to check their top speeds on bikes or cars on this seemingly unending stretch. And, quite of a few of them were racing along on the deserted road. The barren lands on either side, dotted with a few upcoming apartments, offer no distraction and the only thing that thrills here is the speedometer. As I pressed the accelerator, however, the bikers zooming past on the other side attracted my attention with their nodding heads. It was then, it dawned on me that there were indeed a few traffic constables hauling up a few “unlucky” speedsters. I slowed down to have a chat with the policemen on duty. Ironic as it may seem, they too have bikes! Not surprising then that they were scribbling the “challans” of `350 with smiles not scowls.“No sign of any signboards?” I asked to which a constable replied non-chalantly. “Construction workers may have taken them!” His colleague interjected. “We are going to install new signboards and hence, old ones were removed.” This sounded more plausible.It may be easy to deride the police. But on these roads, there are practical difficulties. The police are on one side of the route. All that they have are bikes. It’s simply not possible to catch a speeding bike or a car on the other side. Two-wheelers are advised to make use of service roads, but the ring road proves more confusing, with no directions. There are hardly any places for a halt, to have a refreshment,  a petrol pump or a police outpost for assistance. The less said about traffic signals, speed-breakers and toll booths the better. There are very few U-turns or diversions, which makes motorists to go back on the wrong side. The nearest nursing home from the first incomplete tollgate from Gachibowli is 8 km away at Raidurgam. It makes things difficult in case of accidents or crimes. But who cares? Speed thrills even if it kills.