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Our Bureau

Kolkata, May 21

The West Bengal Government is initiating moves to curb overloading of goods vehicles in the State and the results will be visible shortly. This was assured by the West Bengal Transport Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, while addressing members of the All-India Confederation of Goods Vehicles Owners’ Association (ACOGOA) here recently, according to Mr Chittaranjan Dass, Vice-President of ACOGOA.

Talking to Business Line, Mr Dass made it clear that his association would continue its relentless fight against overloading which was, the single largest factor contributing to the ills currently afflicting the road transport sector.

While consignors/common carriers were also responsible for overloading, it was only the truck drivers who were harassed.

He, therefore, emphasised the need for amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 to invoke the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to the Public Property Act, 1984, such that the consignors/common carriers, if found guilty of overloading of goods vehicles, were brought to justice.

Mr Dass also suggested the constitution of a regulatory authority for the road transport sector to curb what he felt “anarchy on the highways”.

Despite the Supreme Court’s order against overloading, the rules were flouted with impunity with active connivance of the State Government’s law enforcement officials.

Although the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 was central law, its implementation rested with the State Governments.

The ACOGOA’s Kolkata meeting, Mr Dass said, adopted several resolutions which included, among others, stopping mockery of National Permit Scheme, rationalisation of taxes on commercial goods vehicles, acquisition of powers by the central authorities to enforce the provisions of the central laws, introducing the system of vehicle checking only at borders check posts and roll-back of tyre prices.

More Stories on : Roadways | West Bengal

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