Visakhapatnam, popular as Vizag, is the largest and most populous city in Andhra Pradesh. The city has seen a massive rise in population and vehicle number while the commuting space has been declining rapidly due to development.

A high number of vehicles combined with deteriorating infrastructure lead to congestion and accidents.

As a bike owner in this area, it would be beneficial for your finances if you get a bike insurance policy. It will cover you from unforeseen situations, including theft, fire, accidents, and natural disasters.

Besides, as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is compulsory to have at least a third-party insurance plan. To buy a two-wheeler insurance plan, you can opt for Digit Insurance.  

You can avail of benefits such as 24/7 customer support, IDV customisation, add-on covers, and more.

Following are the two wheeler insurance add-ons available in Visakhapatnam:

• Zero Depreciation Cover
• Return to Invoice Cover
• Engine & Gear-box Protection Cover
• Consumable Cover
• Breakdown Assistance
• Tyre Protect
• Daily Conveyance Benefit
• EV Shield Add-on Cover

Vishakhapatnam (commonly referred to as Vizag) is the largest city (both in terms of area and population density), the financial and industrial capital of Andhra Pradesh. The city is marked with a population of ~5.18lakh, high literacy rate (~74%) and average annual growth rate of 2.17% (for the period 2006-2020) and driving high disposable income. 

Challenges faced by Two Wheeler Riders in Vishakhapatnam

• Lack of planning, Deteriorating infrastructure: Vizag’s road network is comparatively very dense and congested due to narrow carriageways, further marked with high pedestrian traffic and slow-moving vehicle concentration. As per reports, Visakhapatnam recorded 1,667 road accidents in 2017 (highest in Andhra Pradesh) out of which 329 were fatal. Also, the road between Rushikonda and Timmapuram is of S-shape and is a major accident-prone area where many accidents occur as motorists lose control due to over speeding.
  
• Increasing vehicle number, Decreasing commutation space: The city reported increased disposable income, promoting vehicular purchase, usage and sale. Further, the bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion, especially during peak hours is accelerated by auto-rickshaws (which constitute ~70% of the total traffic), unorganized and stationary vehicles on carriageways. Secondly, the movement of heavy vehicles on the highway at high-speed, especially at night. It was reported that  14,201 accidents occurred on National and State highway in 2017 in Andhra Pradesh.
  
• Irresponsible driving. Victims are just prey: According to Transport Department analysis, out of 100 road accidents recorded, 30 were related to two-wheelers and nearly 60% of the total two-wheeler accidents are due to the mistakes of the riders such as negligence, over speeding, driving in inebriated conditions. 
  
• Scarcity of parking spaces; Theft: Scarcity of parking space, especially near corporate parks and holiday/getaway places have also been marked as accident-prone areas - majorly for scratches, dents, and minor accidents due to paucity of place for better parking and mobility. These areas also record the highest vehicle thefts.
  
• Low recovery of stolen bikes: According to a report, the rate of bike thefts in Vizag has come down but the recovery rate of these bikes is very low. The bike lifters sell the bikes in parts for more profit. In October 2019 it was reported that Vizag police have arrested a gang that was involved in hundreds of bike thefts over the last six years. The number of two-wheelers recovered from this gang is around 130.

Digit follows an online process. So the chance of wasting time and money in insurance queues, agent negotiations are out of question. Secondly, it’s a paperless process – So no printouts and photocopies. Guess the average claim process time? Yes, it’s in minutes! What else calls in for a better two-wheeler insurance choice?

• Types of Two Wheeler Insurance policies provided by Digit:
• a) Third-party Liability Policy: This pays for you when you are legally held responsible for a mishap that has caused bodily injury or property damage to any other party.
  
• b) Comprehensive Policy: This policy pays you for the damage to your own vehicle along with the third-party liability. It safeguards against damages caused by natural calamities, fire, and theft, among others. 
  
• Traffic Penalties Avoidance: As it is illegal to ride an uninsured bike on Indian roads, you will have to pay a heavy penalty of ₹.2000 for this offence. So get your bike insured and ride legally.
  
• All-around protection with a comprehensive plan: Comprehensive plan ensures a stress-free and safe ride. Considering the challenges faced on the roads of Vizag, this plan is the most appropriate. It will cover the expenses on your bike after an accident on any zig-zag road of Vizag. As the pedestrian count is high on the roads, you may end up causing some third-party damages unknowingly. This policy takes care of your third-party liability as well.
  
• Add-ons that suit Vizag: As the recovery rate of stolen bikes is pretty low in the city, hence the “Return to invoice” add-on can help you recover the on-road price of the vehicle in case of a theft. There are other add-ons like the consumable cover, breakdown assistance, etc that you can explore.