The Hindu Business Line : States against stricter rules to curb trucks overloading

New Delhi, Jan 1 Curbing overloading by trucks on Indian highways is proving to be a tough task with State Governments unwilling to endorse the Central Road Transport and Highways Ministry’s proposals that would virtually ban overloading.

At present, even though overloading is illegal, most of the State Governments allow vehicles to move ahead with the excess load if they pay certain penalties.

PROPOSALS

The Centre is working on bring in amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act that would not allow overloaded vehicles to move the commodity without offloading the excess load at the check-posts. This move is in line with the Supreme Court order of few years ago against overloading.

Another consequence of this amendment would be that States cannot ask for penalties for the excess load and then allow the vehicle to proceed with the excess load as is the case now.

Additionally, the amendments would also bring the common carrier (that includes the transport contractors which hires the truckers as well as the truckers) into the ambit, holding them responsible for overloading. At present, the transport contractors who hire the truckers are not held responsible.

“This provision is important because to a large extent it is the transport contractors who are responsible for overloading rather than the truckers as the contractors have the option to hire another trucker if one trucker refuses,” explained officials from Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training (IFTRT), a transport research body.

The issue (amending the Motor Vehicle Act) is currently under consideration of Parliamentary Standing Committee.

STATES’ VIEWS

Several States that have deposed before the Standing Committee have expressed their inability to adhere to the provision on getting transporters to offload the excess load and want continuation of the present regime. States have cited practical problems in implementing the rule that include lack of weigh bridges as well as adequate space to offload the cargo.

Another problem pointed out by States in implementing the rule is unavailability of manpower to do the job. Some of the States also admit that they fear losing the revenues that they earn by imposing fines and allowing truckers to carry overloaded vehicles, according to official sources.

ANALYSTS’ VIEWS

However, IFTRT points out that the States should not bother about the manpower required to offload excess load as the rules clearly stipulate that the onus of offloading is on the transporters.

As for unavailability of weigh bridges, the State Government officials can continue the present practice of using documents with the truckers to find out excess load till weighbridges are installed, say IFTRT officials.

On the lack of adequate space to park the excess load, IFTRT officials say: “Once the common carriers – be it transporters or truckers – realise that their vehicles are not being allowed to move ahead if overloaded, they would themselves stop overloading for the fear of delaying deliveries and losing their customers.”