Residents demand curbs on heavy trucks

Members from Whitefield Rising (WR) staged a protest on Saturday, urging City police and State government to restrict movement of heavy trucks entering through Whitefield and Vartur area.

WR, a citizens movement for better governance, along with representatives from schools and citizens staged a protest at Varthur Kodi Circle, Whitefield.

“Heavy trucks including lorries carrying non-essential commodities pass through State Highway 35, and, in turn, pass through Varthur village and Whitefield roads. The roads are narrow to handle interstate traffic not to mention the Varthur bridge that was never built for such a load. Apart from Whitefield residents and adjoining areas of Varthur and Sarjapur, schoolchildren are equally affected,”said volunteer and local resident Nidhi P.

The members maintained that during peak hours, trucks transporting construction material often clog the narrow roads leading to mile-long pileup.

“More than 1,500 residents signed a petition in August, last year, seeking relief from the daily struggle. The City police imposed ban on movement of trucks towards end of 2014. However, the ban was revoked from January 1, 2015 due to pressure from the truck lobby. The traffic situation is back to the previous one,” said another member.

The protesters suggested that long distance trucks and interstate trucks coming to cement factory, Whitefield, can travel via National Highway 207 and Channasandra-Hope Farm Route.

“Trucks carrying non-essential goods should avoid morning time and can ply from 10 am to 2 pm and from 10 pm to 6 am. At other times they must be parked off the roads,” the members said.