Covid-19: MHA control room to directly resolve truck drivers’ woes

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3

The government on Sunday decided to resolve directly complaints and issues related to drivers and transporters on passage of goods carriers, including empty trucks, from the Ministry of Home (MHA) central control room, where officials from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) have been attached and helpline numbers have been issued for the purpose.

A decision in this regard was taken in view of the complaints continued to pour in despite Union Home Secretary writing to state and Union Territory chief secretaries, asking them to communicate to field officials that inter-state movement of goods carriers, including empty trucks, are allowed all across the country, a senior MHA official said.

In an official statement the MHA said, “In order to ensure faster resolution of the complaints/issues of the drivers/transporters on passage of goods carriers, including empty trucks for inter-state movement across the country during Locddown, the Union Government has decided to utilise the Control Room of MHA, where officers of the MoRTH are also being deputed for this purpose.”

It further said the Control Room number for the Lockdown of the MHA- 1930 is being made available for the benefit of Drivers/Transporters to lodge any complaint pertaining to the lockdown. “In addition NHAI helpline number 1033 is also made available for National Highway related grievances,” it added.

“MoRTH, NHAI, Transport Departments of the States/UTs, Transport Associations will take necessary steps to provide information to the Drivers/Transporters. The officials deputed from MoRTH in the MHA control room will assist in complaint/grievance resolution relating to the Transport sector/Drivers. The MoRTH officials would also compile the daily report on such complaints received,” the statement noted.

Noting that that movement during the lockdown is governed by the MHA orders and guidelines, it is further clarified that the ministry provides for “redressal of complaints by drivers and transporters on passage of goods carriers including empty trucks and inter-state movement of the driver/cleaner from their residence to and fro to the truck parking area”.

In the statement the MHA hoped that this mechanism “is expected to greatly address the issues/hurdles” in the movement of goods across States/UTs during lockdown aimed at curbing COVID-19 pandemic in the country.