Call for review of time slots for truck drivers after mishaps

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 10

Taking cognisance of the demise of a 30-year-old vegetable seller and a 52-year-old woman, who were reportedly crushed to death by speeding trucks near Maqsudan Sabzi Mandi and DAV College in August and September last year, the traffic police had passed an order in October restricting the movement of heavy vehicles and loaded trucks between 8 pm to 8 am.

However, within weeks of the implementation of the direction, not only did the the truck drivers start violating the rules blatantly, but the officials themselves provided them with extra hours to move across the no-entry zones.

In November last year, the relaxation hours extended up to two hours, between 10am-12pm. Subsequently, this relaxation period increased past three hours between 9.30 am-12 pm.

Owing to this, the commuters not only face inconvenience on the roads but also feel scared to drive along with the heavy vehicles. The rush of trucks and trolleys is mostly observed at the Maqusudan Sabzi Mandi and the transport area near Workshop Chowk.

A number of truck drivers who come for the loading and unloading of goods park their vehicles during that time near Maqsudan Sabzi Mandi.

Residents said the trucks were not only shrinking the roads but also risking the lives of the commuters. They were reportedly violating the speed limit parameters.

“The Maqsudan Chowk-Patel Chowk stretch is a congested route during the daytime when heavily loaded trucks move as it becomes inconvenient to travel,” said Karamjit Singh, a resident of Seth Hukum Chand Colony.

Pankaj Mehta, a resident of Bhagat Singh Colony, said he had spoken to the officials regarding the relaxation extended to the truck drivers, but to no avail. Traffic police stationed on the roads said only truck drivers going to Kapurthala were given the relaxation. However, he said he had noticed many a time that there were only a few trucks that moved towards Kapurthala, preferring instead to park in the stores and godowns located in the interiors of the city.

Also, only vehicles that had authority letters from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) were allowed to move. However, in violation of the instructions, some truck drivers were still transporting goods to and from out the city between 8 am to 8 pm.

On the violations of rules, an ASI rank traffic official said relaxation has been provided to the truck drivers for the supply of goods.

Meanwhile, the ADCP Traffic said he would look into the situation pertaining to frequent time slots given to the truck drivers.