Kohima: Truckers want the state to lift weight limits. The North East Federation of Truck Owners and Drivers Union met with Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem on July 21 to demand a review of travel bans on the Kohima-Mao section of NH-2. Heavy vehicle operators report significant financial losses. Many drivers struggle to pay off vehicle loans while restricted from the road.
The administration imposed the ban to protect crumbling roads. Kohima-Mao and NH-29 suffer during monsoon weather. Officials blocked 10-wheel and overloaded trucks from June through October 2026. Buchem stated the decision followed a May 29, 2026 meeting held by the Chief Minister to guarantee road safety and keep traffic moving. He noted the restrictions were a temporary measure. Buchem said, "the concerns raised by the truckers were not confined to a single state or union but affected the wider region."
The union proposed allowing 16-wheel trucks carrying up to 35 metric tonnes. They asked for a joint monitoring committee with the police, transport department, and NHIDCL to manage vehicle weight checks. Other ideas include using weighbridges, issuing clearance slips, and finding new routes for heavy loads. The group also wants the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation to provide timelines for bridge repairs. The federation urged that any future bans remain strictly time-bound to keep essential goods moving. Buchem requested the union help remove abandoned vehicles and stop unnecessary honking.
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