BELAGAVI
In a major relief to truck operators plying on the Goa-Belagavi road via Chorla, the North Goa collector has permitted movement of heavy commercial vehicles (multi-axle vehicles) along the route at night following an intervention by Belagavi district authorities.Hundreds of trucks had been stranded along the Goa-Belagavi road via Chorla from Sunday night till Monday night, after transport officials decided to strictly enforce the North Goa collector’s order banning the movement of heavy vehicles along the route.
Furious over the strict action, a number of angry truck operators and drivers warned that vegetable and milk vehicles arriving from Belagavi area will be stopped if authorities do not allow movement of trucks by Monday night.
As the situation turned tense, Goa transport officials on Tuesday allowed trucks to travel along the Goa-Belagavi road via Chorla after issuing them challans for violating the collector’s order and serving them with a warning.
According to sources, the aggrieved transporters from Belagavi region and the Belagavi Lorry Owners' Association then approached Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil and Superintendent of Police Dr Sanjeev Patil to intervene in the matter.
The two officials then contacted North Goa Collector Mamu Hage and highlighted the inconvenience caused to traders in Karnataka due to a ban on movement of heavy commercial vehicles on Chorla road till March 19, 2023.
After they appealed for a favourable solution, Hage responded swiftly and modified the prohibition notification, to allow the heavy commercial vehicles (multi-axle vehicles) via Chorla Ghat at night.
In a modified order on Tuesday, North Goa Collector Mamu Hage stated that the entry of heavy commercial multi-axle vehicles between Belagavi and Goa has been banned, except from 10 pm to 5 am, till March 19, 2023.
With this latest order, trucks will now be allowed to ply via Chorla only between 10 pm and 5 am.
Meanwhile, residents of Kanakumbi, and other villages en route have appealed to Belagavi authorities to follow Goa and prohibit the movement of heavy overloaded trucks, multi-axle vehicles on the Chorla road to avoid damage to the road or else, to improve the road to withstand movement of heavy vehicles.
