How bribe, greed and corruption play havoc with lives of citizens

Despite ban on entry of heavy and medium commercial/passenger vehicles in the city limits between 7 am and 11 pm, thousands of trucks can be seen plying on city roads throughout the day. Not only do these vehicles eat up space on roads and cause congestion, they add to already deteriorating air quality. Truck owners and drivers say they pay bribe in hundreds and thousands to cops, depending on whether the truck is empty or carrying consignment, to enter the city.

Take the case of roads behind the Nirma University that give entry into the city from SG Highway and SP Ringroad. Hundreds of trucks enter city limits through these roads with impunity, any hour of the day. The police patrol vehicles stop almost every truck, but none are asked to turnback.

When asked how he managed to enter, a trucker passing through Malabar County Road behind Nirma University, a truck driver said, “I pay Rs 100 to get in and another Rs 100 to go out through this route when the truck is empty. Not only this road, we use many other roads along the SG Highway and SP Ringroad to enter the city by paying money to cops.”

When this correspondent asked a cop in a PCR van stationed on the road why the trucks were being allowed to enter, he said, “These trucks have permits as they belong to Food Corporation of India.” However, most of the trucks that passed by could be seen carrying construction material, sand, grit, cement and steel bars among other goods.

What transporters says

Owner of a transport agency, while talking to Mirror, alleged: “Thousands of trucks illegally enter the city daily. There are about 55 entry points of which 15 are major where a lot of corruption happens. The extent of corruption involved is unfathomable. A truck that seeks illegal entry pays at least Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Depending on the goods, there’s no upper limit. This racket is their kamau dikro (earning child). Ultimately, passengers and consumers have to pay for the corruption as no trucker or bus owner is going to bear the burden.”

What officials say

ACP traffic (administration) B B Bhagora said, “Permissions are granted in case of company staff buses for pick up and drop, to contractors of government projects and vehicles that supply provisions including fruits, milk, vegetables, petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG between 1pm and 4 pm, when there’s no heavy traffic on specific routes. Permission is also given for trucks with concrete ready mix during the same period.” Joint Commissioner of Police J R Mothaliya could not be contacted for comments.

Citizens raise concerns

Environmentalist Mahesh Pandya said, “Aa toh Andher nagri ne Gandu raja (lack of action and mismanagement by authorities). Supreme Court guidelines to curb pollution are brazenly violated by paying bribe to cops. Any number of buses and trucks can enter the city without fear. The administration gets a wake-up call only when the SC or the HC wields the stick and that too is forgotten in ashort while.”

Sameer Maniar, a businessman, said, “Private luxury buses and even trucks with grit, sand and steel as well as ready mix vehicles ply throughout the day and even at peak traffic hours. There is no one to stop them. ” Vasna resident Ashish Barot said, “The way trucks openly flout rules, it seems there is no time bar for them to enter the city. The regulation is just for namesake.”

The notification

Ahmedabad police commissioner comes out with regular notifications to prevent entry of heavy vehicles. The December 2017 notification, as part of assurance to the Supreme Court to control pollution and accidents in the city, prohibited entry of heavy and medium trucks, tractors and passenger vehicles into city limits between 7am and 11pm. Concession was given to only those vehicles that carried essential items like food and fuels etc.