Was in Mangalore recently, and witnessed the famous overloaded ming trucks first hand. Can someone from the area enlighten us - how does this thing work? Some questions I got are
- What are the weight limits for these trucks? Here is what I know. "single axel truck should not carry more than 12 tonnes while the multiple axel and tandem axel trucks should not carry more than 20 tonnes". Correcto?
- Do the operators need to upgrade trucks (more axels) to carry more load per truck? Basically, go multiple axel? Why is the limit for multiple axel truck capped at 20 tonnes?
- How does the bribing process work - truck drivers pay at each weighing scale, or does the operator of these trucks (some bigger guy at top) pay someone in RTO or NHAI? I know these would be rumors, but what have you heard. Don't mention names, just the modus operandi.
- A critical question for me. I understand the core problem that some of these roads (Shirady Ghat, NH17) are not designed to take vehicles heavier than X tons. Why isn't this being solved the other way - meaning, the mining truck operators pay some extra money (via tax) to NHAI to make them build thicker roads that can take more loads per axel? We know there might be corruption involved in rebuilding these ghat and coastal roads year after year, but ignore that for a moment and share your knowledge of road thickness and vehicle weight standards.
To me, its just plain and simple sad. Its 21st century, and we can't build roads that could survive three month spell of Monsoon. Connectivity to other parts of the state is a major handicap for Mangalore, an excellent coastal town. The city has some serious potential, how do we help it realize them?
Some numbers that I know:
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hmm....
cost of truck vs train
these are the key angles I can think in truck vs train cost angle
The two negatives for train do it, what say? The first point more than the second one.
A realistic way forward would be for the miners to pitch in a sponsor a better road that can take more tonnage per axel. They could team with Mr Kheny and propose a Bangalore-Mangalore expressway through the ghats. Everyone wins.
Pushing them to use train requires two things 1) enforcement - watch and pull down all heavy trucks 2) tracks near all mines to connect to mainlines. #1 might be doable, but perhaps not #2.
lack of accountability
The advantages of bulk goods transport through rail, particularly over long distances, are too enormous. In spite of it all, if they are not being deployed, you will have to look for reasons beyond plain economics.
Railways may be making huge profits. But, accountability to the public, for which reason they supposedly are retained as a public sector entity, is certainly not a virtue they can boast of.
Muralidhar Rao
Motive?
"Money goes to a government company, not your friend's roadlines business."
Probably mine owner family's side business!
Thinking wild - 100 lorries are a lot harder for anyone to monitor for goods transported vs say 5 trains! Each trip can start anywhere, and end up anywhere.
Logically thinking, with roads getting messed up so bad, cost of transport and maintenance of lorries should go up sky high. Beats me that this (money) is not a good enough incentive to generate interest in maintaining the road.
Could it be that lorry / mine interests somehow involved in road construction? Or the return haul lorries carry back from the port city make up for additional cost?
Thanks,
Ravi