Car rally screams safety

Posted in Mulund Powai Plus On Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 12:49:18 PM 

Bhanu Kumar Mulund  

Onlookers paused to read the catchy slogans stuck on the cars' sides as they navigated through the stipulated route on the morning of January 4.

'Short cuts cut life short', 'Know safety, no accidents', 'Be alert, be aware, be alive', 'Chance takers are accident makers' were some of the slogans.  Hosted by the Rotary Club of Bombay Mulund East - Dhoom 2009 car rally was aimed at mainly promoting safety. 

One of the many cars that was a part of the rally

Sudhir Hanumante, President of the Club informs, "38 cars were flagged off from 9.30 am onwards at intervals of one and half minutes and the participants came from Mulund, Thane, Ghatkopar, Dombivili, Vashi and Nasik too." 

"This is the third such event we have organised since 2004. This time it is called State Bank of India Rotary Car Rally- Dhoom 2009 and it is in association with Mumbai Traffic Police, Mulund Gymkhana and The Times of Mulund Powai," informs Deepak Jiandani, project Chairman.

"We had pasted about 500 safety slogans behind auto rickshaws since January 1, both in Hindi and Marathi. We have also felicitated three rickshaw drivers selected with the help of their union based on accident free driving record and honesty. We timed the event to coincide with road safety week that falls in the first week of January every year. This was not a speed rally but safety rally," adds Jiandani.

The route was from Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg to Powai and back.  There were marshals at nine points of contact areas. Dr Jayant Kulkarni, District Governor of Rotary Club and resident of Mulund East congratulated the club on their consistent efforts. Charanjit Singh Sapra, MLC was the guest of honour and expressed pride in being a Rotarian himself. 

Sameer Patil and his wife were chosen the best husband and wife team. The second runner up team of Suraj Deshmukh and Sameer Malavade were from Vashi and the first runners up were Neil Desai and Suvarna Desai who had driven car number 20. 

The winners were Dr.Sudhir Joshi and Sannika his daughter. "We feel very proud and honoured," said Joshi, posing for photographs from his car.   

"The arrangements were superb and we enjoyed the entire rally. Winning or losing was the last thing in our mind," said N Pathare who had come from Nasik.

times.mp@gmail.com