NHAI cracks down on overloaded vehicles

NEW DELHI: In a major move to deter plying of overloaded vehicles on highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to force them off the road till the extra load is removed at the cost and risk of transporters.

This will be in addition to levying of penal charges of ten times the applicable fee at the toll plazas that is presently being imposed on overloaded vehicles, an official statement said.

Apart from curbing accidents the move is also aimed at bringing down vehicular pollution arising out of overloaded goods carriages. "So far, the NHAI toll contractors/concessionaires, citing lack of space at toll plazas and other practical difficulties, have not been off-loading trucks and were only charging 10 times penalty for overloading," it said.

National Highways Authority of India