India, Sept. 2 -- On Monday, two-wheeler riders in Noida and Ghaziabad found themselves facing a new reality at fuel stations: no helmet, no petrol. The Uttar Pradesh government's month-long enforcement drive, running from September 1 to 30, kicked off with strict orders to petrol pump staff not to dispense fuel to riders without helmets.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath described the initiative as a "step toward responsible riding," urging the public to see it not as punishment but as a safety measure. A government press statement stressed that the campaign is being coordinated across districts by magistrates, police, transport officials, and the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC).

"The drive is to ensure the safety of riders and redu...