Karnataka rains: Ban on heavy vehicles in Kodagu till August 25

MYSURU

Kodagu district Deputy Commissioner Venkata Raja has prohibited heavy vehicles from plying in the district till August 25 in view of the threat of landslides during the monsoon rains.

Even as the IMD declared an orange alert for Kodagu on August 6 amid reports of a revival of monsoon, Mr. Venkata Raja, who is also Chairman of the Regional Transport Authority of Kodagu, has prohibited all types of vehicles transporting wooden logs and sand, goods transport vehicles with a registered weight of more than 18,500 kg, and heavy vehicles like bullet tankers, ship cargo containers, long chassis (multi-axle) vehicles, and articulated vehicles from August 6 to 25.

The order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner on August 5 under provisions of Karnataka Police Act 1963, Disaster Management Act 2005, Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. The order exempts vehicles transporting fertilizer, cooking gas and fuel, milk, vehicles used for government work, school, college and public transport vehicles, including multi-axle buses.

The Deputy Commissioner has authorised the Superintendent of Kodagu district police to install necessary signboards and notice boards on the restrictions on heavy vehicles while issuing further instructions to set up proper check posts at Kushalnagar and Sampaje that mark the district’s boundaries on National Highway 275.

Instructions have been issued to deploy personnel round-the-clock at these check posts, and for mobile patrolling to ensure compliance of the order, and taking action under the law against persons violating the order.

During monsoon, the condition of the roads deteriorate daily as the moisture content in the soil increases. There is a likelihood of the movement of heavily loaded goods vehicles causing landslides along the edges of the road, leading to mishaps. The roads in Kodagu are full of sharp curves and steep gradients.

Over the past five years, several roads in Kodagu, which have been damaged due to heavy rains and floods, are already under repair. Hence, in view of the risk posed by movement of heavy vehicles, the authorities have deemed it appropriate to ban the movement of heavy vehicles to protect the roads, public property and passenger safety, a note issued by the Deputy Commissioner’s office stated.

However, light vehicles, buses and goods vehicles weighing up to 12 tonnes, are exempt from the restriction.