Faulty vehicles barred from motorway

Road safety campaign suspended following protests.

FAISALABAD: In the aftermath of the Kallar Kahar tragedy, the motorway police have launched an extensive crackdown against all ‘unfit’ or faulty commercial transport vehicles and barred more than 174 passenger buses and wagons from entering the Motorway (M-3) from the Kamalpur Toll Plaza.

However, the campaign – barring passenger vehicles without a ‘fitness’ certificate issued by the vehicle examiners, not testified by the Road Transport Authority (RTA) and not carrying a valid route permit – has been suspended for a week following protests launched by transporters and passengers alike.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nisar Ahmad told The Express Tribune that immediately after the Kallar Kahar accident the motorway police came under scathing criticism for failing to check such gross irregularities as overloading, rickety condition of the bus, and its plying the motorway without a route permit or fitness certificate.

“Many said that the motorway authorities should not allow such types of vehicles on the highway keeping in mind the safety of the passengers,” said SSP Ahmad.

“Consequently, the motorway police launched a campaign to ensure that no commercial vehicle should be allowed to enter M-3, which is not carrying a fitness certificate, route permit and other documents,” he revealed.

“In just 24 hours, we found as many as 174 buses and wagons lacking the above mentioned protocol.”

However, taking into consideration the hardships faced by passengers due to the sudden security checks, police decided to first launch an extensive week-long drive to create awareness about faulty vehicles, defects and lack of necessary papers, the SSP said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2011.