Shops see marginal rise in sale of helmets

Shops see marginal rise in sale of helmets

www.mangaloretoday.com

Udupi, Jan 31, 2016:  With Feb 1, at hand when helmets to become mandatory for drivers and pillion riders of two-wheelers in the district, there has been only  a marginal rise in the sale of helmets in some outlets here.

Even traders, who have come with stocks of helmets from Rajasthan, and selling it on the roads, said the demand was not to their expectations. One shopkeeper said there was an initial spurt in demand for helmets, which later petered out. Another factor, which has come to the fore is that most youngsters are purchasing helmets online.

One road side seller from Rajasthan with about 250 helmets, has put up a shop near the city bus-stand, where he is selling the helmets. According to him, all the helmets sold by him have ISI marks. He sells helmets costing from Rs. 350 to Rs. 600. In the last two days that he is here,  he sold about 15 helmets. He expected brisk business. If it does not click here, he said he will move to Mangaluru.

Another trader, sells helmets and other accessories such as glasses and gloves at Lakshmindra Nagar in a makeshift shop. She said there was a huge surge in demand after the police declared helmets were compulsory on January 20, but since then, it has fallen.

A helmet selling shop said there was marginal increase in demand in the last fortnight. Earlier he used to sell 400 helmets a month, now the sale had increased to 430 helmets.  One reason for only a marginal increase is that most college students purchase helmets online. Most of the helmet buyers at my shop are above 45 years.  A final year degree student  said he had been purchasing most of his accessories such as bags and shoes online. He had purchased a helmet also online. Hope that people will not flaunt the law and be on the right side of it to avoid difficulties.