Pune: Helmets have been made mandatory for employees and officials using two-wheelers in the premises of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) building as well as in the premises of the PMC's regional office and other offices.

Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B. P. has ordered that if there is no helmet, then the premises should not be allowed and the vehicle should not be allowed.

The number of road accidents has increased significantly across the country. The number of accidents involving two-wheelers is high and the number of fatal accidents is high due to not wearing a helmet.

Pune city has a large number of two-wheeler riders. Many have accidents. But helmet use is low. Political parties and organisations also oppose the mandatory helmet ban. Therefore, only CCTV cameras in the city take action against two-wheeler riders who do not wear helmets.

The divisional commissioner had issued an order a few months ago to make helmets mandatory for employees of all government offices as the use of helmets to prevent road accidents and to start following traffic rules on their own.

Action will be taken against the concerned staff and department heads if the order issued by Additional Commissioner Prithviraj BP is not implemented.

"It is mandatory for government employees to wear helmets and if they ignore it, disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned officers and employees under the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules and accordingly fine will be levied and recorded in the service book," the circular said.