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| Old, redundant vehicles plying on far flung dangerous roads | | Administration in deep slumber | | SANJAY PATHAK
EARLY TIMES REPORT
KATHUA, July 11: Under the nose of district administration Kathua, old and redundant vehicles including Tata Sumos have been plying on far flung areas of Billawar tehsil, posing great risk to the lives of villagers. It appears that the district administration has not taken any lesson from the tragic road accident, when an old and redundant Tata Sumo had met with an accident along Katli – Malhar road in Kathua district, in which nine persons, including three children and three women, were killed and five others had injured. The incident had happened around five months back and the ill-fated vehicle, a Tata Sumo bearing registration number HP20B-7030 had plunged into a deep gorge near the remote Malhar area of Kathua district.
Instead of taking action against these old redundant vehicles the district administration is still in deep slumber. According to locals of Machedi and other remote areas of Billwar, several taxis with registration numbers of Himachal and Punjab are still plying on the deadly Katli- Malhar road, Billawar - Machedi road and some other routes. Even these vehicles are without the route permits.
“Drivers of the private vehicles daily ferry passengers on these routes, interestingly no one in the administration whether police, Traffic police or Motor vehicle department has taken any action till now. It shows the callous attitude of the administration against the precious lives of the people from far flung areas” Raj Kumar, a local of Billawar said.
According to sources the traffic and motor vehicle department officials did not dare to visit these remote areas, adding that’s why the drivers have continued to use these old vehicles, flouting all norms without fear. There seems something fishy in the entire scenario as the local police have also not been taking any action to the open violation of norms and endangering their lives.
The Motor Vehicle Inspector, Vikas feigned ignorance over the issue and said if the vehicles are plying in the hilly areas without valid documents the department will shortly launch a checking drive against the defaulters. |
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