Modified two-wheelers turn goods carrier

PK Jaiswar

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 27

Cocking a snook at the Motor Vehicle Act, several violators have modified two-wheelers into a carriage vehicle right under the nose of the traffic police and district Transport Department.

It takes just Rs 7,000 to convert a two-wheeler into an illegal commercial vehicle which not only pose a risk to riders but to other commuters on the road also.

In the manual of these two-wheelers, manufacturers specifically warned them against modifying the vehicle but violators never adhere to these warnings. The practice is more rampant in rural belts of the city.

These illegal commercial vehicles are being used for ferrying vegetables, construction material, furniture and other household items. It is suspected that a majority of the two-wheelers converted into “rehras”, especially those plying in villages, are stolen as there was no registration number plate attached to them. It has been learnt that such vehicles are being manufactured at Rambagh and Jahajgarh areas.

It is an irony that such vehicles are being openly manufactured in several parts of the city while the district transport office or the traffic police did not have any knowledge about the same, said Gurmeet Singh Bablu, a local resident and shopkeeper.

Such vehicles should be completely banned as they were in clear violations of the Motor Vehicle Act, he said.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) feigned ignorance about such vehicles.

He said if such a thing was happening, this was clearly against the norms of the Motor Vehicle Act and demands immediate action.

“Personally, I have not come across such illegally manufactured vehicles. But I would direct the traffic police personnel to keep a check and take necessary action against such violators,” he added.