No police everywhere, so bikers are now free to roam about DME.

On the high-speed Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME), where automobiles hurtle down at 80-90 kph and seriously endanger two-wheelers that travel slower, motorcyclists have had a free pass because of a lack of cooperation between the different police authorities.

The police denied receiving any such request, despite the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) executive's claims that they had encouraged the traffic department to place officers at the expressway's entrance and departure locations.

Two-wheelers are prohibited on the DME because of the high speed of other cars on the stretch, according to officials. A truck travelling at 60 kph and a bike moving at 60 kph are not equivalent. Bikers are at significant risk from heavy vehicles travelling at high speeds.

Bikes are prohibited from using the highway for a reason, according to an NHAI employee.

Between UP Gate and Dasna in 2021, there were 206 accidents on the DME and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

There were 122 fatalities and 152 injuries overall. Up to May 31 of this year, there were 50 incidents on the two expressways, resulting in 28 fatalities and 64 injuries.

The DME, which will be accessible to commuters in April 2021, runs from Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan to Meerut, with the majority of it falling inside Ghaziabad.

Even though two-wheelers on the DME are subject to a Rs 1,000 punishment, there aren't enough police officers to enforce the penalties and fines. Another issue is wrong-side driving, which carries a Rs 2,000 punishment.

Despite the fact that challans have been issued, police sources acknowledged that more may have been issued if officers had been stationed in more advantageous positions. The Ghaziabad police had issued a total of 40,383 challans up to June 20 of this year- 1,083 for two-wheelers, 5,164 for parking in restricted areas, 3,472 for driving on the wrong side of the road, and 31,747 for speeding.

Although drivers of two-wheelers on the DME can be fined Rs 1,000, there aren't many police officers to administer the punishments and fines. Another issue is driving on the wrong side of the road, which carries a 2,000 rupee punishment.

Although challans have been issued, police sources acknowledged that if officers had been stationed in more advantageous areas, the number of challans may have been higher. 40,383 challans have been issued by the Ghaziabad police as of June 20 of this year, including 1,083 for two-wheelers, 5,164 for parking in restricted areas, 3,472 for driving on the wrong side of the road, and 31,747 for speeding.

The NHAI has not yet made a proposal to the NHAI on whether to deploy police or increase the fine amount, according to Ramanand Kushwaha, SP (traffic). Bikes should be stopped by NHAI at the toll itself. He questioned, Why do they let motorcycles go through the plazas? The top official urged that passengers' awareness must be raised.

An NHAI officer said that it frequently resulted in confrontations and clashes when bikes were stopped at the toll plazas themselves.

Since private firms staff the toll plazas, a representative added, they don't want to get into any problems.