Tipper lorry movement to be controlled

The Transport Department has decided to restrict the movement of tipper lorries in the mornings and evenings across the state. Transport Department officials have said that an order in this regard has been issued by the Additional Chief Secretary a week ago. Directions will be given to all Regional Transport Officers to enforce the restrictions accordingly.

According to sources, accidents involving tipper lorries have been increasing, and such an order was passed on the basis of a judgement made by the Kerala High Court. “The High Court had observed that the necessary power has to be invoked under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, imposing restrictions on the running time of tipper lorries during peak hours in the mornings and evenings. The government, considering the High Court observation and public interest, decided to restrict the movement of vehicles equipped with the tipping mechanism on the roads all across the state,” said an official in the Transport Department.

Accordingly, an order has been passed that tipper lorries will not be permitted to operate on the roads across the state from 8 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 5 pm. The Motor Vehicles Department officials had been directed to erect traffic signs under Section 116 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, at suitable places across the state to bring the new restrictions to the public notice.

Regional Transport Officer B J Antony said that there are separate restrictions passed by the individual RTOs in each district regarding the movement of tipper lorries.

“RTOs in most of the districts, on the basis of their power, had restricted the movement of tipper lorries. But this order might be enforced across the state.