Marine Drive Racing: Residents Demand Action Against Reckless Bikers

Youngsters on expensive superbikes and modified motorcycles are causing a disturbance at Marine Drive, particularly during the early hours of the weekend, as per a Mid-day report. According to the Marine Drive Citizens Association, these bikers engage in stunts and racing, creating noise that disrupts the sleep of local residents.

Residents have reported this issue for several years, despite making repeated complaints to the authorities. Rajesh Gupta, vice president of the Marine Drive Citizens Association, highlighted the problem in the Mid-day report: "The majority of citizens in the area are elderly people whose sleep is always disturbed because of the noise pollution created by these bikers."

Siddharth Daftary, a 48-year-old businessperson, described a recent incident where loud noise from motorcyclists disturbed his family's rest around 3:45 am. "These bikers have no regard for the law; they jump traffic signals, ride without helmets, perform dangerous stunts like wheelies, and engage in reckless racing at Marine Drive," he said, sharing that he had recorded videos of the racers on his phone.

Many residents are frustrated with the lack of police action. Daftary pointed out, "These bikers are a menace, especially on weekends, and stay in the promenade for at least one to two hours. They can be easily caught, but the traffic police seem more focused on slapping fines on car owners rather than stopping the biker problem."

Another resident, Suresh Chhabria, questioned the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras in the area, suggesting that the police should be able to track down the bikers. He expressed concerns about the cameras' ability to capture the registration numbers of speeding motorcycles, saying, "If the cameras are not working properly, the home department should consider replacing or upgrading them. Why the delay?"

A senior police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, acknowledged the issue with the cameras. "The alpha-numeric digits are often too small, or LED lights are fixed on the number plates, making it difficult for the cameras to capture clear images," the officer explained.

Nilesh Bagul, the senior inspector of Marine Drive police station, assured residents that police are taking action. "After we learnt about racing at Marine Drive, police officers started chasing the bikers. While many escaped, one biker abandoned his motorcycle during the pursuit and fled towards Marine Lines railway station. We have confiscated the motorcycle and will use the registration number to track him down and address this gang's activities," he stated.

Sources in the police department revealed that many of the racers come from Pune, Kalyan, and central suburbs of Mumbai, highlighting the need for a coordinated response to this ongoing issue. Residents hope for quicker action from the police to restore peace at Marine Drive.