Overloaded trucks hauling massive granite blocks without proper safety equipment are creating severe hazards for pedestrians and motorists on the roads of Jalore district. Emerging from local industrial units, these heavy vehicles operate without secure tie-down straps, raising fears of catastrophic accidents. Intriguingly, these unsecured trucks routinely traverse the main road right outside the District Transport Office (DTO), showcasing a blatant disregard for safety regulations.
Heavy Truck Movement Across Granite Hub
Jalore houses a major concentration of granite processing units, primarily clustered in the Two-Phase and Third-Phase industrial zones on both flanks of the city. Every single day, approximately 250 to 300 trucks loaded with large, heavy granite blocks depart from these facilities. A significant portion of this stone cargo is dispatched to major trading centers such as Rajsamand and Kishangarh, as well as other regional destinations. Local residents point out that out of these daily movements, more than 50 trucks are operated with excess cargo weight and completely lack essential safety tie-down belts.
Open Violations In Front of Transport Office
The DTO office is situated along the busy Jalore-Bhinmal Road. Despite this administrative presence, unsecured trucks loaded beyond permissible weight limits drive past the office entrance throughout the day. Residents express frustration that despite repeated complaints, the absence of stringent, continuous enforcement has emboldened negligent operators. The ongoing lapse is equally visible along other heavily traveled corridors, including Dhavala Road, Swarooppura Road, and Ahor Road.
Past Accidents Highlight Severe Safety Risks
The dangers posed by unsecured granite blocks are not theoretical, as multiple hazardous incidents have occurred in recent months. Around eight months ago in Korana village under Ahor sub-division, a road cave-in caused a granite-laden truck to lose control, dumping three massive stone blocks onto the thoroughfare. Fortunately, no pedestrians or other vehicles were in the immediate vicinity at that precise moment. In another incident roughly a year ago on Sirohi Road in Ramsin, a giant granite block crashed onto the middle of the roadway, obstructing traffic flow and inflicting structural damage on the road.
Departmental Enforcement and Staff Shortage
Addressing the situation, Jalore DTO Om Prakash acknowledged that maintaining effective vigilance across the district requires at least two dedicated flying squads. However, the department is currently operating with just a single flying squad. Despite resource constraints, enforcement actions are being carried out. Over the past year, transport personnel issued a total of 329 challans specifically targeting overloading and the non-use of safety belts. Additionally, digital monitoring during mineral transit resulted in 887 online challans for overloaded vehicles.
Counseling Drives and Community Demands
DTO Om Prakash noted that under the explicit instructions of the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP), transport officials are conducting regular awareness drives to counsel drivers and fleet operators on road safety norms. Nevertheless, persistent non-compliance remains widespread among many operators. Concerned local residents have urged the transport department to mandate mandatory pre-transit block securing, enforce weight limits strictly, and institute daily checkpoints to prevent major disasters on public roads.
