Mumbai : Heavy vehicles plying to and from Konkan on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway have been banned. The Home (Transport) Department has banned heavy vehicles on this route to avoid inconvenience to devotees going to Konkan during Ganeshotsav period and also to avoid traffic congestion due to heavy vehicles coming on that route. Orders in that regard have been issued on 23rd August.
Vehicles transporting sand/sand and similar secondary minerals will be completely banned on Mumbai-Goa National Highway No. 66 from 1:00 PM on August 27 to 8:00 PM on September 10. However, the above restriction shall not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities like milk, petrol/diesel, cooking gas cylinders, liquid medical oxygen, food grains, vegetables and perishable goods. Also road widening/road repair works and materials, goods etc. of Mumbai-Goa National Highway No.66. It has been clarified in the order that the ban will not be applicable to transport vehicles. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation arranges to release extra buses for the convenience of Konkan residents. Due to the traffic of heavy vehicles and vehicles transporting sand on National Highway No. 66, the number of vehicles coming to Konkan during this period has increased to a large extent, causing traffic jams and causing inconvenience to the passengers. Therefore, the Home (Transport) Department, using the provisions of Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, in the public interest, Panvel to Insuli (Savantwadi) National Highway No.66 (R.M.No.Old No.17) (Pen via Panvel to Sindhudurg) , Vadkhal, Nagothane, Kolad, Indapur, Mahad, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Rajapur, Kankavali, Kudal, Sawantwadi) traffic of sand/sand loaded trucks, big trailers and heavy vehicles is prohibited. The department has issued orders in this regard.
According to this order of the State Government, all vehicles weighing 16 tonnes or more than 16 tonnes on National Highway No. 66, Mumbai-Goa during the period from 1 pm on 27th August to 8 pm on 31st August for Ganeshotsav Preparatory Travel / Arrival of Murti. (Heavy vehicles, trucks, multiaxle, trailers etc.) such vehicles will be prohibited for traffic.
All vehicles weighing 16 tonnes or more on National Highway No. 66, Mumbai-Goa during the five and seven days Ganpati Virsjan/Gauri Ganapati Visarjan/partial return journey from 4th September at 8 am to 8 am on 6th September. (Heavy vehicles, trucks, multiaxle, trailers etc.) All such vehicles will be completely closed.
Anant Chaturdashi 10-day Ganapati immersion/ return journey from 9th September 8 am to 8 pm 10th September on National Highway No. 66, Mumbai-Goa during this period for all vehicles weighing 16 tonnes or more than 16 tonnes. (Heavy vehicles, trucks, multiaxle, trailers etc. vehicles) will be completely closed to traffic. Vehicles carrying sand/sand and similar secondary minerals should be completely closed on Mumbai-Goa National Highway No.66 from 1 am on 27th August to 8 am on 10th September. However, the above restriction shall not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities like milk, petrol/diesel, cooking gas cylinders, liquid medical oxygen, food grains, vegetables and perishable goods. Also road widening / road repair works and materials, goods etc. of Mumbai-Goa National Highway No.66. The ban will not apply to transport vehicles.
In this regard, transporters should be given admit card by concerned traffic department/highway police and J.N.P.T. In this order, it has been said that traffic should be planned so that the movement of import-export goods from the port remains smooth.
