SHILLONG: The Association of Meghalaya Traders and Transporters has petitioned Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to rectify the multiple weighbridge system in the state.
The association said while in other states the transportation cost is cheaper, in Meghalaya it is not so.
“The multiple weighing bridge system and compulsory multiple weighment in the same highway within the same district at various places in Meghalaya is one of the main reasons which has led to the higher cost of transportation in the state,” the association said.
Moreover, the rate fixed by the government as weighment fee in all weighbridges is exorbitantly high at Rs 200 per truck each time it is weighed. The amount of fee charged by the government establishment should be corresponding to the service rendered and should not be exorbitantly high. The only service that the weighing bridges are providing is issuing of weighing certificate, which can hardly cost about Rs 2, the association said.
The establishment cost of weighbridge is one-time and it can be easily recovered during the course of contract period between the private licensee and the government.
The cost for construction and installation of one weighing bridge is maximum Rs 30 lakh. The current traffic flow of heavy goods laden vehicles which pass through NHAI Toll Plaza is not less than 2,000 and during the coal mining season it crosses 4,000.
The amount of investment and that of recovery charged by the government
authorised licensees show that the government is giving undue favour and benefits to private parties in the name of providing services, the association said.
“The amount of profit made by private parties is astronomically high. The annual profit made by the licensee of government weighing bridges is more than Rs 14 crore under the current traffic scenario and it doubles with the opening of coal mining,” the association said.
The association demanded that the government should bring down the weighing fee to Rs 10 per truck and said at that rate, the licensee will be able to make Rs 73,00,000 annually and the amount doubles with the coal mining season.
The association urged the chief minister to issue appropriate instruction to the department concerned to utilise only one weighing bridge in one district and on a single highway.
They pointed out that in East Jaintia Hills district within a short span of road in between Ratacherra and Khliehriat, there are two weighing bridges one at Umtyra and the other at Ratacherra on the same NH-44 (now NH-6). In West Khasi Hills, there are two weighing bridges in between Mawpun and Riangdo.
