Bhairahawa, February 17

Transport entrepreneurs in Rupandehi today demanded that the entry of Nepal-bound Indian vehicles ferrying load beyond capacity be halted.

Entry of overloaded Indian vehicles via customs office has put Nepali truck entrepreneurs and road structures at risk. Transport entrepreneurs say that Indian trucks have robbed them of their business. Police personnel are reluctant to check the overloaded vehicles and their entry into Nepal. More than 150 trucks ferrying goods double their capacity enter Nepal via Bhairahawa customs point on a daily basis.

Western Regional Entrepreneurs’ Committee Butwal Chairman Tikaram Gautam said the government’s irresponsible behavior had put Nepali truck entrepreneurs at crisis. “Our trucks are gathering dust as they have no work while Indian trucks enter Nepal carrying load double their capacity,” Gautam said.

As per the law on transport in Nepal, a six-wheeler can ferry nine tonnes, 10-wheeler 16.5 tonnes, 12-wheeler 21 tonnes and 14-wheeler more than 25 tonnes. But, an Indian 14-wheeler truck is carrying up to 35 tonnes to Nepal. “Overloaded vehicles have damaged the roads and bridges,” said Gautam.

Committee General Secretary Hari Prasad Kandel said they would take to the street if entry of Indian trucks was not banned. “We shall go to the street if entry of Indian vehicles was not banned as they had displaced Nepali trucks,” Kandel said.

Committee had brought nine Indian trucks under control for carrying load beyond their capacity from Nawalparasi’s Tilakpur last Tuesday. Weighing their load at local Dharmakanta had proved that they were carrying goods beyond their capacity.

Lumbini Truck Committee Chair Bishnu Kharel said their repeated pleas to DAO Rupandehi and Bhairaha Custom Office had fallen on deaf ears. Kharel accused the custom office and DAO of doing nothing to control such practices. Rupandehi assistant CDO Shambhu Prasad Regmi said his office would look into the case and book the vehicles that had flouted the road rules.