Nagpur: It is illegal to transport rods, pipes, bamboo and other goods that protrude from the body of a vehicle. However, the traffic police are allowing such vehicles to ply freely. A challan is issued at most. As should be the case, the vehicle is not stopped from any further journey.
Traffic police deployed to Japanese Garden Square on Monday morning caught a vehicle with iron frames and tin sheets jutting out of it. The driver was given a challan by two cops but allowed him to take his vehicle. The iron frames on both the front and rear sides were jutting. According to law, the content should be contained within the vehicle’s body and a red sign should be on the back to alert other motorists. There was no such sign on that vehicle.
In accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is a punishable offense under Section 190(2), with a fine of up to Rs2,000 and provision to detain the vehicle as well. Sadar zone traffic police have just issued a challan for Rs200.
With TOI in mind, the cop admitted vehicles carrying material should not be allowed to ply until the goods are unloaded. He could not justify why the vehicle was allowed to move on without unloading the goods. Drivers took advantage of this practice as they could not be fined again by the traffic police on the same day for the same offense.
TOI also noticed a cycle rickshaw carrying bamboo that crossed busy Bole Petrol Pump Square on Amravati Road in a similar way. The rickshaw puller sprang the red signal, too.
Deputy commissioner Chinmay Pandit has always taken action against such vehicles by the traffic police. In 2019, 63,514 vehicles were penalized either for loading goods that exceeded vehicle height or for having goods jutting out.
Traffic activists say that is not sufficient. In addition to being a danger to other road users, particularly two-wheeler riders, allowing drivers to transport goods in such an unsafe way is also a contempt for the order of apex court.
Pandit admitted that such vehicles should not be permitted to ply and be assured of looking into the matter.
