Shillong: Commercial truckers are burning out on the roads. The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association warned that a lack of highway parking in Ri-Bhoi creates dangerous conditions for operators. Drivers now face the impossible choice of ignoring mechanical failure or fatigue, or risking legal consequences for stopping on the roadside.
The association raised these issues on Wednesday during a meeting with Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abhishek Saini in Nongpoh. The summit included representatives from the National Highways Authority of India, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., and police officials. Members of the District Road Safety Committee from Kamrup, Assam, also joined the talk.
MCTODA Chairman Moslander Marngar blamed the situation on the strict enforcement of a Supreme Court ruling that forbids roadside parking. Marngar noted that the ban aims to improve safety but backfires by leaving drivers without legal alternatives. “Drivers entering Ri-Bhoi are constantly worried about where to pull over in an emergency,” Marngar said. He added that forcing exhausted drivers to stay behind the wheel will cause more accidents.
Local authorities responded to the complaints. Officials pledged to start a joint inspection soon to find space for new lay-bys and heavy-vehicle parking zones along the highway.
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