Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has formally written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging immediate and stringent administrative action against the illegal and hazardous parking of commercial trucks along national and state highways in the state’s key mining and industrial corridors.
Citing escalating road safety hazards and rising accident rates, Pradhan emphasized that heavy vehicle queues spilling onto public roadways pose an unacceptable threat to commuter safety.
Addressing Logistical Deficits and Legal Mandates
In his communication, Pradhan attributed the widespread congestion to poor logistics management by industrial and mining operators alongside a critical shortage of designated parking infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles.
- Constitutional Rights: Referring to Supreme Court directives regarding highway safety, Pradhan noted that safe transit is an integral component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- Enforcement Powers: The Sambalpur MP pointed to specific provisions under the Odisha State Highways Authority Act, highlighting that legal frameworks already authorize heavy penalties, vehicle seizures, cargo impoundment, and action against reckless driving or overloading.
- Corporate Accountability: Pradhan called for the enforcement of corporate liability clauses against industrial players whose transport operations and operational negligence directly contribute to highway blockages and traffic risks.
Key Recommendations for State Action
To permanently resolve the crisis along industrial transport routes, Pradhan put forward structured administrative measures for the state government’s consideration:
- Mandatory Holding Yards: Directing mining and manufacturing operators to establish off-highway holding yards equipped with basic amenities to keep heavy trucks off public tarmac.
- Active Task Force Review: Empowering district road safety task forces—led by local collectors and superintendents of police—to execute round-the-clock monitoring, automated electronic challans, and swift vehicle seizures.
- Public Awareness & Deterrence: Issuing strict administrative notices to logistics operators and ensuring zero-tolerance for violations.
Pradhan asserted that human lives must take precedence over industrial convenience, expressing optimism that strict enforcement will transform Odisha’s economic corridors into safer, more reliable transit routes.
