Kolkata Police includes Harley Davidson bikes to its fleet

Kolkata: Kolkata Police have included Harley Davidson motorcycles in its fleet to keep pace with time.

The city police have purchased five Harley Davidson Street 750 bikes to face the changing traffic scenario. Each bike costs Rs 5.5 lakh. Initially, the bikes will be used only during ceremonial functions.

Senior police officers said the decision to include heavy duty motorcycles was taken as in the past five or six years, the city has witnessed introduction of heavy duty motorcycles like Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Triumph, Ducati, Ninja with engine capacity varying anything between 750cc and 2000cc and there are more than 2,000 heavy duty bikes in the city. So it was felt that for efficient traffic management, the city police should upgrade its traffic wing and include powerful motorcycles. The grey and black Harleys have increased the glamour of the traffic wing of the city police. The sergeants who will be handling them will be given special trainings as one has to be strong enough to control a 750cc machine. It may be recalled that Kolkata Police had used Harley Davidson motorcycles during the British period and till mid 1950s. Harley bikes with side cars were used by the traffic sergeants. Harleys were used for VIP piloting. After Independence, the bikes had been used till mid 1950s.