SHC bans movement of heavy vehicles in city at all hours

Water tankers and, in special cases, vehicles carrying commodities

for daily use exempted

The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the transport and traffic authorities on Tuesday to ensure that movement of heavy vehicles was not allowed in Karachi at any time, except water tankers or, in special cases, vehicles carrying commodities for daily use.

The SHC also directed the traffic authorities to submit details of road accidents in which heavy vehicles were involved since the beginning of the current year.

The directive came on a petition of Faisal Bengali and others against plying of heavy vehicles on roads and residential areas of the city during daytime.

The petitioners said they were permanent residents of Karachi and distressed because of the prevailing traffic situation that was deteriorating day by day.

Their counsel Muhammad Abdur Rehman said the Supreme Court had directed the traffic police chief in August 2007 to immediately stop entry of heavy vehicles in the city during daytime and regulate their flow only between 11pm and 6am.

He said the top court had observed that except in special cases, the ban on entry of heavy vehicles in the city during daytime would continue to remain in force until further orders.

He added that on February 20 the Karachi commissioner had imposed a ban on entry of heavy vehicles in the city between 6am and 11pm for three years.

The counsel pointed out that despite the orders of the Supreme Court and the commissioner, heavy vehicles were plying in every part of the city, including residential areas, and threatening the lives, liberties and properties of the citizens.

He said the authorities, including the transport department and the traffic police, were duty-bound to take immediate and appropriate measures for improving the traffic flow and ensuring safety of the public.

The transport secretary submitted a compliance report regarding measures relating to movement of heavy vehicles, encroachment on roads, lack of traffic management, digging and repair works without proper planning, illegal parking and improper goods transportation by trailer trucks and other such vehicles.

The transport secretary and SSP traffic (South) told the court that they were aware of the SC order regarding ban on heavy vehicles’ movement in the city between 6am and 11pm, and assured the court that the order would be implemented in letter and spirit.

In response to a question, they conceded that a proper route in the Mauripur area was available via Northern Bypass for heavy vehicles coming from and going upcountry.

The SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar said that in the presence of proper route, the movement of heavy vehicles in the city, especially in residential areas, was unjustified.

The court directed all the relevant authorities to ensure that movement of heavy vehicles was not allowed in any part of the city at any time, except water tankers or, in special cases, vehicles carrying commodities for daily use.

The transport secretary informed the court that there was no specific policy to regulate the number of passenger buses and coaches on a particular route within a specified time, peak and/or off-peak hours, which was also causing problems for the smooth flow of traffic in different parts of the city.

The court directed him to formulate a policy or frame rules in order to avoid unlimited number of buses and coaches on any one route and submit such a policy within 15 days.

The bench took exception to frequent use of pressure horns  and directed the SSP traffic to ensure that strict action was taken against all vehicles using pressure horns by confiscating them. It directed the government to take action against vendors involved in selling and manufacturing pressure horns and submit a compliance report.

The SHC also directed the authorities to submit details of accidents in which heavy vehicles were involved since January 1. The court repeated notices to DHA and cantonment boards and told them to submit their comments by March 31.