Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, July 28: The owners and drivers of pick-up vans and trucks operating in the North & Middle (N&M) Andaman District have strongly protested against what they describe as an “unjust and discriminatory” system allegedly being enforced by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), A&N Administration, at Mile Tilak, Jirkatang.
The transporters have alleged that commercial vehicles carrying goods between Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat, Baratang, and Sri Vijaya Puram are being subjected to strict cargo weight inspections, with hefty challans ranging from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 imposed for carrying loads beyond the prescribed limits. According to them, pick-up vans are permitted to carry only 1,500 kg, while different limits have been prescribed for heavier vehicles.
The aggrieved transporters claim that these excessive penalties have pushed many vehicle owners to the brink of financial ruin. They state that the freight charges earned from transporting goods are nowhere near sufficient to absorb such heavy penalties, making it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihood.
According to the transporters, the impact of the present system extends far beyond the transport sector. They allege that farmers in North and Middle Andaman are unable to send vegetables and other agricultural produce to the markets due to increased transportation costs. Likewise, shopkeepers are reportedly forced to pay higher freight charges, resulting in increased prices of essential commodities for consumers across the region.
The transporters have also questioned the requirement for loaded vehicles to be weighed at a privately operated weighbridge at Mile Tilak, Jirkatang. They allege that, in addition to the risk of hefty challans, vehicle owners are compelled to pay extra charges to the private operator for weighing their vehicles, further increasing their financial burden.
One of the principal grievances raised by the transporters is what they describe as the unequal enforcement of the rules. They allege that the weight-checking mechanism is being enforced only for transport vehicles operating from the North & Middle Andaman District, while commercial vehicles operating within South Andaman are not subjected to similar checks. They have termed this practice discriminatory and have demanded equal treatment for all transport operators across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The transporters have reportedly submitted a detailed representation to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, requesting immediate intervention and a comprehensive review of the existing enforcement mechanism. They have appealed to the Administration to withdraw what they describe as an irrational system and adopt a fair policy that safeguards the interests of transporters, farmers, traders, and the general public.
Warning of serious consequences if their grievances remain unresolved, the transporters have announced that they will be compelled to suspend transportation services across North and Middle Andaman if corrective action is not taken within one week. They cautioned that such a move could severely disrupt the supply of vegetables, food items, construction materials, and other essential commodities to various parts of the Islands.
The transporters have expressed hope that the Administration will act promptly to address their concerns through dialogue and equitable policy measures before the situation escalates further.
