Transport Dept asked to file report on overloading

The petitioner, M Chellappan of Erode, contended that drivers of transport vehicles were carrying twice the number of maximum permissible limit of passengers.

In share autos, the maximum limit is five passengers while 10 were being taken on board, making them sit in the luggage area and also in the front, with the driver. This poses risk to the driver in maneuvering the vehicle in heavy traffic and causes accidents.

Similarly, in mini buses, 50 passengers were being carried as opposed to 25 passengers as is the limit, he alleged. These additional passengers are forced to stand in the strap hanger, which is meant only for the passengers to alight and board the vehicle, the plea said.

Contending that additional load on the vehicle takes a huge toll on passenger safety, the petitioner submitted that similar problems were encountered in mofussil buses while accommodating excess passengers. Overloading reduces space, which in turn leads to foot-board traveling, he added.

As per RTI, the road tax collected for Mofussil buses is Rs 500 per quarter, while the road tax collected for mini buses is Rs 200 per quarter and the road tax collected for share autos is Rs 4,000 for five years. All the taxes are collected only based on seating capacity, but due to the excess loading of passengers the government suffers a cumulative revenue loss of Rs 5 crore per day on account of road tax alone, the plea said.

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad, before whom the plea came up for hearing on Tuesday ordered, notice returnable on Monday.