To curb the traffic of goods trucks plying on the city roads amid the alarming rise of Covid cases in Hyderabad, authorities have notified that the movement of all goods vehicles, for loading and unloading, will be allowed only from 9 pm to 8 am (next day morning) within the city limits, with effect from today.
In a notification dated 22 May, 2021 signed by Anjani Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, it has been informed that no goods transport will be permitted between 10 am to 9 pm.
No restrictions on movement of oxygen cylinders
There will however be no restriction on the movement of vehicles that carry oxygen and domestic gas cylinders. Also, oxygen tankers, medical equipment transportation and water tankers will be allowed during the lockdown period, as mentioned in the notification.
These instructions have been issued in accordance with a government order to curb the onslaught of the virus and ensure stringent implementation of the lockdown norms.
“Only oxygen and domestic gas cylinders, oxygen tankers, medical equipment transportation and water tankers will be allowed during the lockdown period.”
~The notification dated 22 May, 2021 by the Government of Telangana
Earlier, after inspecting the lockdown enforcement in the tri-commissionerates — Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda — in the city, Hyderabad DGP M Mahender Reddy had informed how a traffic advisory may soon be underway to curb the movement of goods vehicles that are plying on the roads in large numbers.
“We will soon issue a traffic advisory to regulate their movement from 9pm to 8am everyday”, he had earlier shared.
Implementation of the order
While talking about the ground situation, Mahendra Arya, National President, All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) reveals how it is being implemented on the roads.
“The information has just come in yesterday. Since I have operations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, I was told by my manager that they were stopped on the road. However, after speaking to the officers there, he was informed about the notification and how it will have to be followed by every goods vehicle, before he was let off”.
Mr Arya shares that the notification has been implemented on paper as well as on ground.
While talking about the ambiguity regarding the implementation, he shares how he has distributed the government circular to his clients as well.
Although the notification has been put into action, it will be the implementation in the next few days that will put more clarity on the impact it will have.
While talking about the impact of the restrictions on cargo bound for Hyderabad airport, a source has informed us that some of the freight forwarders have been asked to show their identity cards and the authorities have been considerate towards the ones with e-passes passes etc. handy.
Some sources from the transporters’ fraternity have also mentioned that in any case of emergency, the goods vehicles can always approach the nearest police station and explain their situation.
Ambiguity for pharma shipments:
While talking about the circular, Mr Arya expresses his doubts on how the new notification will affect the transportation of medicines and pharmaceutical shipments, as the circular only allowed the transport of oxygen related equipment.
“Only oxygen related goods are being exempted. I am not sure if they are allowing medicines”, he shares.
He however raises his concerns towards vehicles that may carry different cartons of goods, all of which may not come under the exempted category.
“Medicines are usually carried in the cartons. Some trucks may carry more than one carton, so there is an ambiguity on what will happen in such cases”, he says.
He adds, “Ground clarity will come with time only.”
