Act against overloaded RMC lorries, DC tells police and Transport Department

Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa on Thursday directed the police and the Transport Department to take stringent action against overloaded ready-mix concrete lorries as concrete spillage on roads has been causing accidents.

Chairing the district road safety committee meeting at Rajatadri, district office complex at Manipal, Ms. Swaroopa said spillage happens because of the overload and therefore enforcement agencies should take strict action, including imposing hefty penalty, against such vehicles. Spilled concrete creates bumps on roads thereby endangering other motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders, she noted.

Action against buses

Udupi Deputy Commissioner T K Swaroopa directed the transport department to give a deadline to bus operators to fix doors and take action for failure thereafter on Thursday, December 18 at Manipal-Udupi. In picture, a private city bus without doors in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

The DC also asked these two agencies to act tough against stage carriage buses that randomly halt on roads to pick and drop passengers thereby endangering the safety of other road users. Except a few bus stands and bays, these buses do not halt at designated stops and instead act on the whims of drivers. This should be stopped, she said.

Also, she directed the department to give deadline to bus operators to fix doors to buses. All buses should ply with doors after the deadline ends, she said, asking the department to initiate strict action against those not adhering to the directions.

Ms. Swaroopa directed the Udupi City Municipal Council to identify parking locations in the City and facilitate vehicular parking. The council should get unauthorised petty shops on road flanks with the help of the police. If possible, it should identify locations for vending zones and relocate hawkers to that zone, she said.

Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar asked the CMC Commissioner to facilitate all autorickshaws in stands across the city. He also asked the officials to submit a report on the differences between regular autorickshaw drivers and app-based auto operators.

Additional DC Abid Gadyal, Municipal Commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi, NHAI Project Officer Abdulla Javed Azmi, PWD Executive Engineer S. Kiran, and others were present.