The Transport Department has seized over 132 overloaded goods carriers at the Capital’s borders since Friday as part of an ongoing special drive against such vehicles.
Describing it as a major feat by the department’s enforcement wing, which is composed of just 60 officials, sources said a timely shift in strategy helped ensure swift action against the vehicles as they pollute more due to the magnitude of their cargo.
As many as one lakh goods carriers, including trucks, enter the Capital daily.
“Initially, the teams, composed of a maximum of five officials, were stationed at different border points to enforce the ban on entry of such vehicles in Delhi. Over the weekend, however, there was a jump in prosecution as the entire wing was posted at one randomly selected location,” said a source.
From the weekend
As per figures compiled by the Department, 92 overloaded vehicles were inspected, issued a total of 180 fines and impounded, between October 25 and 29.
Despite no such checking on Sunday, the number of vehicles prosecuted for the offence shot up to 132 – an additional 40 vehicles – till Tuesday morning. The source added that the drive was being enforced at border points such as the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road, Singhu Border and Ghazipur Border.
According to another source, the drive will continue between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. daily.
A senior government official said the drive was the biggest campaign against overloaded trucks so far.
“Overloaded trucks significantly add to the pollution of ambient air. Emission from such vehicles is significantly more than the fixed standard. The penalty being enforced will be according to the amount of extra tonnage that they are found lugging,” the source added.
The official said ₹4,000 would be levied for every extra tonne that such vehicles were carrying. Vehicles seized for the offence can only be retrieved from designated traffic courts.
