Kumbh Mela, which is one of the largest fairs in the world is ongoing in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Millions of people from around the world attend the fair and it is spread over 45 days. The ongoing Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj is set up on a grand scale and the police from across the state are taking special care of the attendees. To keep the law and order in check, policemen are patrolling the fair and to efficiently do the job, they are using Powerland 4X4 All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
The Kumbh Mela happens at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna river at Prayagraj. The floodplains of the river are quite tricky and vehicles can get stuck in it. However, the ATVs are much more capable and can overcome the challenges easily. The policemen at the Kumbh Mela were spotted riding several ATVs to patrol the area and to reach various places inside the fair quickly.
The ATVs used by the cops are from the Powerland brand and the model used by the cops is a newly developed model built specifically for the UP Police. They feature 700cc, 45 Bhp petrol engines. Each of these ATVs can cost around Rs. 4.5 lakh but we are not sure if the UP Police have bought these ATVs or they have been taken on the lease or rent. They are the latest ATVs from the brand and they look quite aggressive. The Powerland brand labels them as tractors and they are not road legal. These ATVs cannot be registered as they are not road legal but they can be used in private places without any problem.
Powerland sells a diesel powered ATV for the general public. Called the Powerland 900D, the ATV is powered by an 800cc, liquid-cooled, V-Twin diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 20 Bhp at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 48 Nm. It has a top speed of 45 km/h and gets a 14-litre fuel tank.
The ATVs get CVT automatic transmission with high and low range transfer case. It makes the ATVs go through the toughest of terrains without much problem. It also gets a reverse gear, which is quite helpful in parking the ATV easily. The Powerland 900D is quite heavy and weighs 432 kg.
The ATV comes with McPherson suspension at the front and twin A-Arm independent suspension at the rear. It also gets 4-wheel Hydraulic Disc brakes with dual-bore callipers at the front. Other features include four projector lamps at the front that lights up the path at night. It also gets USB mobile charging socket and multifunctional digital instrument cluster.
The government has allocated a force of 30,000 policemen at the Kumbh Mela site. The exact number of these ATVs is not known but from the pictures, we can make out that there quite a few handfuls of them. A few ATVs even get the Police sticker on them but all of them look like newly acquired. ATVs are much more capable than most of the 4X4 cars. They come with specialised tyres and are much lighter in weight than the SUVs, which make it easy to handle and go through any kind of terrain.