‘Overage’ vehicles ply despite ban
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, May 8
Even as the state high court has banned the plying of commercial vehicles, which are older than 15 years, owners of such vehicles continue to ply on the roads across these twin border districts. Besides polluting air, these “overage” vehicles pose a threat to the lives of the passengers.

The high court in its order, dated 27.10.2005, had banned all commercial vehicles which are more than 15 years old to ply on the roads.

However, investigation reveals that the owners of these vehicles have either sold them to transporters in these border districts or are themselves operating the vehicles here. The “overage” vehicles have been operating in Buddal, Darhal, Thanamandi and Shahdara Sharief in this district while in Poonch district such vehicles are plying in the Mendhar, Surankote, Bufliaz and Mandi areas.

The investigation further reveals that the owners of such vehicles, which are more susceptible to road accidents due to heavy wear and tear, have a nexus with police personnel. The owners manage to ply such vehicles by bribing traffic policemen and local police personnel on monthly basis.

In the past, these “overage” vehicles had been involved in fatal accidents, killing hundreds of passengers in these frontier districts.

"It’s been about four years since the high court had banned the commercial vehicles older than 15 years. But such vehicles are still plying on the roads across the district killing people and causing air pollution,” said Ajaz Ahmed Dar, a businessman of Rajouri.

"The government should implement the directions of the high court so that precious human lives are saved and air pollution is checked,” he added.

DIG (Traffic), Jammu, Sunil Sharma expressed his ignorance over the matter. “No one ever brought the matter to my notice. But if there is truth in these findings, we will definitely implement the ban,” the DIG said.