Kolkata is splendidly defined by its cultural heritage, cuisine, intellectuals and architectural beauty - purely mach, mishti and more! The city of joy never disappoints.

Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and is a major tourist and industrial hub for the northern part of India. In terms of commutation, one can find more than ten modes of transportation in the city, ranging from hand rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, autos, trams, local trains, boats, metros, taxis, buses, among others. Life is busy and everyone is in an inevitable hurry. According to recent estimates, Kolkata is the third most-productive metropolitan area after Mumbai and New Delhi.

Challenges faced by Two Wheeler Riders in Kolkata

• Dilapidating infrastructure: Kolkata in the last few years marked several flyover crashes and other infrastructural damages due to poor construction management and red-tapism. 
  
• Heavy commercialization of the city: Narrow lanes and poor road infrastructure in the commercial space of Kolkata like Bara Bazaar, Esplanade, Bahu Bazaar, etc. are heavily encroached with illegal settlements, hawkers and hand-pulled lorries. Movement of two-wheelers is complete mayhem in the city at any hour of the day or night. Theft is another problem due to lack of parking space.
  
• Prone to cyclones and floods: Kolkata is a place for the landfall of most of the cyclones that are formed in the Bay of Bengal. According to past records, these cyclones can be very dangerous. And it is obvious that vehicles get damaged to great extents in such calamities. Often the city suffers from post-cyclonic floods. 
  
• Uncontrollable traffic: The city is both an educational and industrial hub and attracts mass immigrants from neighbouring states; the labour class forms encroachments and thereby further strangle the free commutation. The city witnessed 2,244 accidents in 2019 alone in which two-wheeler riders were at fault, at least 88 involved minor riders who led to the deaths of 46 people.
  

In Kolkata, everyone is busy and getting the insurance on the smartphone and without any hassle is another dream come true. To safeguard the interest of general riders on the road, third party insurance has been made mandatory (if not comprehensive) by the Indian government.

• Choice of plans: The comprehensive bike insurance plan covers both the third party risk and any personal vehicle or accidental claims. It also covers damages caused by natural calamities, theft, fire, accidental expenses, among others. Third-party bike insurance plan only covers damages caused to the third-party vehicle or property or rider. 
  
• Avoid heavy traffic penalties: The penalties for traffic violations are revised in the Motor Vehicle Amendment in September 2019. The rules are strictly followed in Kolkata as it is a capital city. As it is illegal to ride without insurance, you may end up paying ₹2000 for this offence. Even you might get imprisoned for 3 months. So make sure that your bike is insured before you start riding in Kolkata.
  
• Save your money with Comprehensive Plan: As the city experiences bumper to bumper traffic and heavy commercialization, your bike is always at risk of getting damaged. No matter how carefully you ride, you can not avoid a third-party mistake that may damage your bike. Let’s assume you will be able to protect your bike from accidental damages, but will you be able to stop a cyclone from damaging your bike? So comprehensive two-wheeler insurance is essential for riders in Kolkata.
  
• Add-ons fit for Kolkata: Add-ons are designed to broaden the scope of basic coverages. They come at independent costs and save your vehicle from situational mishaps. Considering the challenges in Kolkata, “Return to Invoice” add-on can be very helpful. With this cover, the on-road price of your bike will be paid to you in case you suffer from a complete loss of bike during a cyclone or a flood. The “Engine and Gearbox Protection” will cover the cost of damage to the engine caused by a flood. Other add-ons like a consumable cover, breakdown assistance, etc are available as well.