Overview

• Starting August 1, fuel stations in Indore and Bhopal have been ordered to deny petrol and CNG to two-wheeler riders without helmets through September 29
• The prohibitory orders invoke Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and follow directives from Supreme Court Road Safety Committee chair Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre
• Day-one enforcement in Bhopal triggered widespread arguments at pumps and riders borrowing helmets to comply, leading police teams to increase patrols at filling stations
• Indore Petrol Dealers Association has requested police and home guard deployment to protect staff from potential abuse when refusing fuel to non-compliant riders
• Fuel stations face penalties of up to one year’s imprisonment or a ₹5,000 fine for violations, with exemptions in place for medical emergencies