100cc bikes: Norms on pillion seats likely to be relaxed

A three-decade law forbidding the installation of a second seat in motorcycles with less than 100cc engine capacity may be on its way out.

The Transport Department is mulling amendment to the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, which forbids pillion seat to such motorcycles.

Officials from the department said this ran contrary to the certifying agencies in the automobile sector, including Automotive Research Association of India, which said even bikes with smaller engine capacity could take two persons.

“We are thinking of reducing the limit to 50cc engine capacity. If implemented, this will be applicable to new vehicles and not existing ones,” said Transport Commissioner B. Dayananda. The proposal was first made in 1996, but never fructified.

Nearly 80% of all non-transport vehicles in the State are two-wheelers. By reducing the norms, to a point where there are very few vehicles less than 50cc in engine capacity, the move is expected to benefit automobile makers tap the rural market.