HC asks NHAI to find ways to curb overloading on NHs

Patna: Patna high court on Friday asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to find out ways to check plying of overloaded vehicles, especially sand-laden trucks, on all national highways in Bihar.

The court’s query originated in the backdrop of a statement made by advocate general (AG) PK Shahi that rampant plying of overloaded heavy vehicles are damaging the roads, besides big and mini bridges across the state.


A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Bibek Chaudhuri, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) of advocate Vikas Kumar passed this order.

Through this PIL the high court is monitoring the construction and widening of the Ara-Mohania highway section of NH-30—a vital link between the state capital and Grand Trunk road (NH-2).

During the hearing, Shahi performing the role of amicus-curiae (friend of court ) submitted, “There is an encrusted syndicate, comprising officials from state as well as central govts and their agencies deployed on national highways, which amass huge money by allowing overloaded vehicles laden with sand to ply on the highways.”

“If a sensor-based weighing platforms with automatic functional gates are installed on highways by the NHAI, as witnessed on expressways in other parts of the country, then this problem can be curbed,” Shahi added.

The court directed the NHAI to file its response by Feb 13, when this matter will be taken up for further hearing.