Zip, zap, zoom: NH-65 now a safe haven to bikers

​Hyderabad: Fast bikes, speed and the thrill of racing sound very appealing to one but the risks that come with it are disregarded based on circumstances. Racers in the city, who have been under constant vigil in the city limits and ORR, now made National Highway 65 their safe haven as the highway is not under any police surveillance. 

The commuters travelling on the NH65 have been facing inconvenience due to the continuous racers. The racers also have the advantage of getting camouflaged with other commuters traveling between Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The power bikes, ranging from 350 cc and more, worth lakhs of rupees, have the ability to vanish from the eyesight in a matter of seconds.

According to sources, certain groups of riders were organising long races on the weekends. The race would start somewhere from the outskirts of Hyderabad and the finishing point would be Vijayawada and vice-versa. A hoard of racers would race for a distance of 250 kilometres and finish the race within two-and-a-half-hours. Due to lack of toll plazas on the route the riders have no obstacles to stop their race in between. 

In the ordeal, the riders are not just putting their lives at stake but are also risking the lives of other commuters. The races are usually conducted on Sunday morning as the highway witnesses less to minimal traffic. 

Due to lack of police surveillance and poor coordination among different police wings regarding the national highway, the racers are taking advantage of the situation. The ‘race-track’ falls under the limits of Hyderabad, Rachakonda police Commissionerates, and Nalgonda district police in Telangana and Krishna and Vijayawada police in Andhra Pradesh.

However, the police officials of both the States neither admitted nor denied the probability of races conducted on NH65, in fact they stated that they have no knowledge of such illegal activities. Nalgonda SP A V Ranganath said, “I am not aware of such racing conducted on NH65. We will keep an eye on the highways if it is found to be true and would definitely take an action.”

By: Kartheek P