Dist admn cracks down on illegal ferrying of passengers

The administration claimed to have tightened the noose around those using commercial vehicles for ferrying passengers in the region.

All SHOs and beat officers have been asked to take persuasive and punitive action against the violators in their respective regions.

Office-bearers and activists of various organisations have been roped in to spread awareness about the consequences of travelling in unsafe vehicles, including commercial vehicles, motorcycle cart, gharuka, jugad etc.

SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said the administration had taken serious notice of recent incidents in which ten lives were lost when a mini-truck carrying pilgrims fell into the Sirhind Canal in Ludhiana district and in another case, about six-eight persons were injured after a collision between a bus and a mini-truck on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla highway.

“Though our traffic wing and Sadak Suraksha Force are already taking proactive measures to prevent mishaps on highways and link roads, we have asked all SHOs and beat officers to ensure that the malpractice of misuse of unauthorised vehicles to ferry passengers is minimised,” said the SSP.

Notably, the malpractice is more prevalent in rural areas where people use these modes of transportation to save money. Not only are such vehicles overloaded but these also ply on unsafe routes to evade action by the authorities concerned on highways.

The rampant use of makeshift vehicles, including outdated mini-truck, motorcycle carts and peter rehra, commonly known as ‘jugad’, has further increased the potential risk to lives of occupants of these vehicles and others.

Vehicles unfit for ferrying passengers are normally used for visiting shrines, attending political rallies and social functions in this part of Malwa.