KARIMNAGAR: Karimnagar, known as a major granite hub in the state, witnesses hundreds of trucks and lorries transporting massive granite blocks every day to railway stations and other destinations. However, the lack of safety measures, frequent overloading and reckless driving by truck drivers pose a serious threat to public safety and government infrastructure, causing panic among the public.
A milkman, Sridhar, who travels along national and state highways, particularly NH-563 between Karimnagar and Warangal every day, says that granite-laden trucks have become a daily nightmare. Narrow stretches, ongoing road-widening works and pothole-ridden patches cause the overloaded lorries to jerk and swing dangerously, driving other vehicle drivers into a state of panic.
In the past, accidents involving granite blocks falling from lorries have been reported. In one such incident, a massive stone block slipped off a truck and landed in the Kakatiya canal near Huzurabad, where it still remains as a reminder of the risks. Locals fear that similar incidents could recur anytime if authorities fail to act.
Environmental concerns add to the problem. Transportation through forest-fringe highways has endangered wildlife, with at least one reported incident of a bear being run over by a granite-laden lorry on the Vemulawada-Karimnagar highway a few months ago.
Despite persistent complaints, enforcement remains weak. When contacted, Road Transport Deputy Commissioner P Purushotham did not respond to phone calls or messages, while Traffic Inspector Khareemullah Khan said they do not allow these trucks to enter city limits and instead divert them to bypass roads and national highways. However, lack of monitoring on these routes has led to unchecked overloading and violation of safety norms.
Residents and commuters are urging the government to streamline granite transportation, enforce strict loading limits, mandate safety locks and chains for granite blocks and impose restrictions on unsafe vehicles. They warn that without immediate intervention, overloading combined with poor road conditions could lead to more accidents, infrastructural damage, especially to bridges, and potential loss of life.