Excess load on vehicles on NH-37 : BRO writes to Ministry to enforce ceiling
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 12 2013: Contrary to strong opposition from transport operators against limiting weight of goods carriers, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has reportedly intimated to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to prohibit passage of trucks exceeding 18 tonnes on the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of National Highway-37 .

According to an informed source, the BRO cited passage of 3000 to 13,000 trucks each month with many of them loaded with goods in excess of 18 tonnes for the serious damage caused to Barak and makru suspension bridges as well as deterioration of the highway road.

It is said that the BRO authorities made an official complaint to the Ministry on May 1 with an earnest appeal to install weight bridge at Jiribam for restricting the load to 18 tonnes, limit transportation of goods with security convoy to once a week so that road development works by the BRO personnel are not disrupted and instruct para-military force personnel manning the Makru and Barak bridges to allow passage of only one loaded vehicle at a time on these bridges.

The BRO's intimation sharply contradicts frequent assertions by the Transporters and Drivers' council that the bridge factor should not be the basis of restricting vehicle traffic on the highway as the Imphal-Jiribam section has become a vital link in ensuring adequate availability of consumer items in Manipur.

Asking the BRO to instead expedite the road development work, the Council reminded that the Transport Department had already issued directives that six-wheeled trucks may carry 9 tonnes, 10-wheelers 15 tonnes and 12-wheelers 20 tonnes.

As the transporters have been paying tax to authorities concerned the BRO lobbying for limiting the load weightage or restricting number of vehicular movement is unjustifiable, reacted a Council representative.

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