Expect traffic snarls, as rickety Ganpati trucks take over the road

Like every year, nearly 8,000 trucks and tempos will flood the city's streets today to ferry Ganpati idols from artists' workshops to mandals and housing societies, bringing every motorist's nightmare to life.

Motorists often complain about tempos carrying Ganpati idols hogging the road and going slow. Pic for representation

Not only do the heavy vehicles and their minders hog most of the road by driving really slow in the right lane, past experience has taught the traffic police to be worried about them breaking down in the middle of the road, leading to massive snarls. In fact, several breakdowns have taken place in the past few days itself.

To avoid traffic obstructions, the traffic police have asked mandals not to hire Nashik dhol players and bands to accompany the idols, but the RTO says it is short staffed and, thus, can't take enough steps to prevent vehicle breakdowns.

"We have asked mandals not to have bands accompanying them while getting the Ganesh idols, to ensure smooth movement of traffic," said P Dighaokar, Deputy Comm-issioner of Police (Traffic).

The police have also made plans to convert many roads into one-ways and use no-entry points and diversions to ensure that heavy vehicles, processions and the regular traffic can move smoothly, in tandem with each other.

The RTO, on the other hand, is pleading helplessness on the breakdown issue. Traffic experts say that despite a restriction on trucks and tempos older than eight years plying on the road, the rule is not enforced.

"We can only carry out full-fledged inspections and checking of these trucks and tempos, including the fitness certificate, once a year or so," said S Sahastrabudhe, Transport Commissioner (add-itional charge).