BARA: As many as 843 truck operators including 550 truckers were penalised for not complying with cargo weight standards during the first quarter of the current fiscal.

According to official statistics, the total number of truckers booked for overloading during the whole 12 month period in the last fiscal stood at 338.

Authorities have collected Rs 5.12 million in fines in just over four months in FY 2018/19. Last year, revenue generated through booking over-loading truckers amounted to Rs 3.5 million, Traffic Police Inspector Ripendra Singh informed.

As per freight standards set by Department of Transport Management and monitored by traffic police personnel, 22-wheelers can haul up to 35 tonnes and 10-wheelers are not allowed to carry over 16.5 tonnes.

Likewise, 18-wheelers can carry up to 30 tonnes and 12-wheelers are allowed to haul cargo weight up to 21 tonnes.

Overloading cargo while on the road is one of the leading causes of road accidents in Nepal. Moreover, overloaded freighters plying on road and bridges also reduce life of the infrastructures and damage bridges.

Traffic Office in the region has stepped up monitoring efforts in the recent days in lieu of safe guarding infrastructures.