Question : OVERLOADING OF VEHICLES

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that overloaded vehicles especially trucks are dangerous to other vehicles plying on highways and have damaged the National Highways in the country;

(b) if so, whether the Government has taken or proposes to take any action in this regard including measures to check overloading of vehicles; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the total number of road accidents caused due to overloaded vehicles during the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI SARVEY SATHYANARAYANA)

(a) & (b) It is a matter of fact that overloaded vehicles are responsible for road accidents and damaging of National Highways. The problem of overloading of motor vehicles has been drawing attention of the Government for a long time and has also been discussed with State Governments /Union Territories at various fora, including National Road Safety Council(NRSC) meetings. In order to curb overloading, adequate provisions have been provided in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to check overloading of motor vehicles. The Gross Vehicle Weight of various categories of motor vehicles were notified vide SO 728(E) dated 18.10.1996 and 517 (E) dated 26.5.2000. Every motor vehicle is required to adhere to the specified load ceiling.

Enforcement of provisions of traffic control, including overloading is the responsibility of the State Governments. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified six BOT/OMT projects for enforcement of overloading provisions of the concessions agreement on pilot basis.

(c) State-wise and Year-wise details of road accidents caused due to Over loading/Overcrowding of Vehicles during the years 2009-2012, are given at Annexure.