HYDERABAD: Transport officials are considering a proposal to increase the penalty on goods vehicles which ply with a load weighing more than that permitted. Till recently overloaded transport vehicles have been impounded and kept in the custody of the Road Transport Authority (RTA) office concerned for a period of 30 days and a penalty of Rs 1,000 per tonne has been collected. Sources in the transport department said that a proposal was getting ready to increase the penalty from Rs 1,000 to `3,000 per tonne of load carried in excess.“This is being mainly done with an intention to raise more revenue since we are finding it difficult to meet the revenue targets set by the government,’’ an official explained. But many see this proposal as an indirect way of legalising overloading. An overloaded vehicle runs the risk of losing its balance while in motion and causing accidents. Overload heavy vehicles such as trucks may damage roads. Another apprehension expressed is that the proposal might lead to increase in corruption among enforcement officials. A corrupt motor vehicle inspector (MVI) can release an overloaded vehicle by pocketing some bribe money.
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