Transporters to keep trucks off roads for kanwar yatra

Transport agencies have decided to stop booking of goods from July 23 to August 1, due to route diversion for the kanwar yatra.

Transport agencies have decided to stop booking of goods from July 23 to August 1, due to route diversion for the kanwar yatra. The decision was taken by transport agencies following a meeting with the Ghaziabad traffic police at the Police Lines.

Transport agencies expressed concern over lack of parking facility and transport nagar scheme in the city. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Major diversion of vehicles from NH-58 to NH-24 has been proposed from July 24 to August 1. Officials said that the diversion would include all types of commercial vehicles.

“Heavy vehicles such as trucks, and light commercial vehicles such as mini trucks etc, are covered under the diversion. We don’t want any mishap as it may escalate into a law and order situation during the kanwar yatra. No one will be allowed to park their vehicles on NH-24, which will bear the major load of diverted traffic towards Hapur,” Rajesh Kumar, superintendent of police (traffic), said.

Following the meeting, the transporters also appealed to their members to stop bookings of goods from July 23.

“There are around 5,000 commercial vehicles in the city and our businesses will suffer. The diversion also affects industrial production due to hold up of supplies. Still, we will comply with the directions. We neither have a parking facility or a transport nagar to operate from. The administration must look into these issues as well,” Ajay Pathak, president of Ghaziabad mahanagar good transport association, said.

“Truckers don’t find a place to park their vehicle and have to park on any vacant space. The drivers are forced to halt for days before they are allowed to

proceed. They are also harassed by officials many a time,” a trucker said.

Officials said that complaints of harassment or extorting money from truckers would be strictly dealt with, upon a complaint.

“We have also requested transporters to keep commercial vehicles off GT Road. Since the Mohan Nagar intersection is closed for metro work, commercial vehicles will not be allowed through the intersection. Further, any vehicle parked on GT Road will hamper construction of the metro stations,” Anil Kumar, a traffic inspector, said.