TURA, Dec 16: Hundreds of boulder laden trucks from the kingdom of Bhutan passing through Garo Hills with their consignment destined for Bangladesh are violating surface transport and highway laws by replacing the permitted 3 axle trucks for 5 axle lorries that carry a heavier load, reducing the life expectancy of the roads, and also causing revenue loss for the state.
Over the past week, dozens of trucks overloaded with boulders have been snaking their way from Assam into Garo Hills every night. As per the state permission, only 3 axle trucks are supposed to be carrying the consignment, but this has now made way for the larger 5 axle trucks.
Interestingly, the trucks are now using the Paikan to Tura National Highway 217 route to head to Dalu border town from where the consignment is allowed into Bangladesh. This is the shortest route to the neighbouring country.
Previously, all Bhutan trucks with boulders had to use the Agia-Medhipara-Phulbari-Tikrikilla road (AMPT) to first pass through Garobadha town, Ampati and the border town of Mahendraganj. From Mahendraganj, they further needed to travel via the Gopinathkilla-Purakhasia border road before touching Dalu town- a substantial distance and time consuming exercise.
“The overloading and use of 5 axle trucks have totally damaged the AMPT road, and even the RCC bridges, so they are now compelled to use the Tura route,” reveals a source.
Besides the load violation, it is also a setback to the state as far as revenue generation is concerned. While the norms are for tax collection from the 3 axle trucks, transporters are getting away with the additional weight carried in the 5 axle lorries.
“There is revenue seepage at the source because in the eyes of the government it is a 3 axle truck, but in reality 5 axle trucks are carrying extra tons of boulders and this money is not getting accounted for with the state. It is a massive loss for the government and huge profit for the transporters,” points out the source.
Some of the truck operators try to justify their overloading citing the massive extortion that takes place all across the highway. From alleged men in uniform to non-state players, the vicious circle of extortion is carried out at the cost of the state and its roads.
