Ready to hit the road on your rugged RX135? Think again

A TVS two-stroke bike parked on a street in Bangalore, which is engulfed in smoke and soot emitted by such vehicles

By Rajnandini Ghosh

BANGALORE (Sept. 8)—The Regional Transport Office takes no stand against the two-stroke bikes that merrily pollute the city although the air pollution level is way above the legal “breathing level” maximum.

The owner of an emission-testing center at a petrol station in Brigade Road pointed out that the legal emission maximum for two-stroke bikes is significantly higher than that for four-stroke bikes.

For four-stroke bikes it is 4,500 grams per kilowatt hour for hydrocarbon and 3 g/kWh for carbon monoxide. The same for two-stroke bikes is as high as 6,000 g/kWh and 4.5 g/kWh, respectively.

“Despite the increased cut-off level, most of the two-stroke bikes coming for the test fail it,” said the petrol station owner, who would not give his name. “Only a good servicing helps the bikes pass the test.”

The emission center at the petrol station is one of about 300 government-authorized emission centers in Karnataka.

Authorities take contradictory stances

A spokeswoman for the RTO explained why she feels Bangalore is not likely to have a ban on two-stroke bikes in the near future.

Premalatha S., the head public relations officer at the RTO, said: “Bangalore is home to many middle class and lower-middle-class people. Affording a four-stroke bike is not easy for them.”  

When asked how many two-stroke bikes were registered in the city in 2010-11, she admitted that the RTO maintains no such records.  

A senior officer from the Karnataka Pollution Board expressed his concern regarding the health risks posed by transport pollution in Bangalore.

B. Nagappa, scientific officer at the Air Pollution Department of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board said at a recent presentation at the Indian Statistical Institute, “Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons are the deadly components that pollute the city air every day.”

According to Nagappa, coughing, breathing problems, dust allergy and insomnia are some of the common diseases Bangaloreans face due to severe air pollution, and that emphysema, bronchitis, asthma and skin diseases are possible long-term side effects.

Courtesy: KSPCB

Changing attitudes a challenge

A passionate biker refuses to swap his Yamaha RD350 for a cleaner-running bike, although he is aware of the pollution it causes.

Tej Sapru, a postgraduate student at the Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media in Bangalore, said: “The acceleration of a two-stroke is much better than a four-stroke, and the RD350's acceleration is much better than any motorcycle that has ever been produced in India.

“The second reason is that the mechanics of a two-stroke is understandable, so you can work on it yourself. With most modern four-strokes you have to take it to a service center as you need a computer to understand how it works.”

While leading bike manufacturers such as Yamaha are concentrating on remodeling the hugely popular RX135 to a four-stroke version to cut down on pollution, the state government is doing nothing to keep count of the two-stroke bikes that pollute the city. Unfortunately, even the city’s residents appear to be indifferent toward the problem.