In response to long-standing public complaints over the illegal parking of heavy trucks along National Highway-6, the Ri Bhoi Police launched a major enforcement operation on Friday, covering the stretch from Byrnihat to Jorabat. This corridor has long been a bottleneck for commuters entering and leaving Meghalaya, with parked trucks often blocking nearly half a lane and causing severe traffic congestion. The drive, led by Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh Rathore and Additional SP Orville Massar, aims to ensure smooth vehicular movement and prevent accidents.
Rathore explained that daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles entering Guwahati contribute significantly to the problem, and as a temporary solution, trucks have been directed to park under the Jorabat flyover along the Sonapur side, where traffic and residential density are lower. Alongside clearing illegally parked vehicles, the police conducted checks for helmet and seatbelt violations, drunken driving, and other traffic offences. Nearly 70% of the trucks were removed on the first day, with patrolling teams set to monitor the stretch every one to two hours over the next five to six days.
Fines amounting to around Rs 5 lakh had already been collected by 7 pm through e-Challan. Rathore emphasised that safety takes precedence over convenience and warned that repeated violations would attract higher penalties. He also cautioned roadside garages against obstructing the highway, noting that non-compliant establishments could face closure under magisterial powers. The police credited continuous enforcement with a recent decline in fatal accidents while stressing that truck drivers must adhere to traffic regulations despite the challenges they face.