From C K Nayak
NEW DELHI: Shillong MP Vincent H Pala, who is a civil engineer himself, questioned the nine tonne limit imposed on trucks plying on national highways across the country.
Participating in the debate concerning the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Pala said, “Most of our trucks manufactured by TATA, Ahok Leyland and Mahindra can carry a load of 35 tonnes but only nine tonnes are allowed leading to huge cost escalation and incalculable losses to the citizens in various ways, not to speak of road congestion which towns like Shillong face regularly.”
Pala also pointed out that the restriction encourages corruption. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the corruption and inefficacy that resulted from such laws.
“Way back in 2005, when the Supreme Court gave the ruling that single axle vehicles should carry only up to nine tonnes, the road conditions were not good,” Pala said.
“When we design the pavement of the road, we take into consideration both the IRC codes as well as the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. I would request the Minister to amend this Act because this single Act has encouraged a lot of corruption,” the Shillong MP said.
The former Union Minister also dismissed apprehensions that such high capacity trucks will damage the roads.
“In that case with all the technologies available why should we not build stronger roads which will enable these vehicles to carry much more,” he questioned.
Pala said that the concept of limiting the capacity to nine tonnes, which is used for the design of the pavement, should be increased to 20 tonnes. “This is very important because even small vehicles will be able to carry nine tonnes whereas trucks and other big vehicles can carry 30 tonnes. The restriction affects landlocked Northeast,” he said.
Pala expressed concern over several road projects pending clearance from various ministries like forest and defense. “Roads should be brought under 9th Schedule which provides smooth ways to acquire land for roads by the Government,” he said.
Pala also pointed out that for the first time the Centre has reduced the allocations for roads for the Northeast.
“The Government has announced Rs.37,880 crore in this Budget for this Ministry and normally, a minimum of 10 per cent is allotted to the Northeastern States. That means, about Rs.3,788 crore should have been allotted. But only Rs.3,000 crore has been allotted to the NE states which is a reduction of Rs.788 crores,” he said.