HC issues slew of directives to check overloaded vehicles

SHILLONG, May 3: The High Court of Meghalaya has issued a series of directions to the state government to check the menace of overloaded vehicles
Pursuant to the order dated March 31, 2023, a report was filed by the state indicating that awareness programmes have been conducted among officials and other stakeholders to ensure that overloaded vehicles do not take to the state or national highways in Meghalaya.
“There also appears to be a press release issued on April 17, 2023, indicating the types of vehicles, the axle combination of such vehicles and the revised permissible net weight for each category. The press release, issued under Section 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, also provides for excess load being offloaded immediately upon discovery at the owner’s or transporter’s cost,” the court said.
The court also observed that the number of weighbridges and checking places should be increased and electronic weigh-pads as indicated by the state should be introduced at several more places, including places where boulders are carried and roads leading to the land customs stations.
The court also hoped that the 23 weighbridges that the state promised to make functional would be in place before the matter appears next.
In addition, weigh-pads, which, according to the state, would cost Rs 27 lakh each, should also be procured to be used at strategic points.