Jamshedpur: Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) general secretary Vijay Anand Moonka on Friday wrote to East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar requesting him to extend the 'no entry' hours for heavy vehicles from 11pm to midnight.

The chamber said with night life in the steel city gradually extending, rash driving by trucks, dumpers and trailers after 11pm was posing a great threat to the lives of those who return home late.

SCCI's move comes a day after two men travelling in a two-wheeler were killed by a speeding SUV near Sakchi post office on Kalimati Road at 11.45pm on Thursday. Some of the other roads which turn into death zones after 11pm are Bistupur Main Road, Kharkai Link Road in Bistupur, Subernarekha Link Road in Sakchi and Station Road. The current 'no entry' timings for heavy vehicles are 6am to 10.30am, 12 noon to 2.30pm and 5pm to 11pm.

Although heavy vehicles remain off the roads during 'no entry' hours, they tend to defy all rules after that risking the lives of people who travel in cars, auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers and cycles.

A number of citizens told The Telegraph that people travelling in cars and two-wheelers after 11pm are forced to get off the roads to escape being hit by dumpers and trucks. "Night life in steel city is extending. Earlier, people would return by 10.30pm. But these days, they return home very late. With the 'no entry' hours ending at 11pm, commuters have to risk their lives negotiating the heavy vehicles that move at breakneck speed and flout traffic rules," said Moonka.

The SCCI general secretary said they have urged the deputy commissioner to review the 'no entry' timings and extend it till midnight.

"If 'no entry' restriction is extended by an hour, commuters will feel a lot safer while returning home," Moonka said. "Though two men were killed hit by an SUV, the Kalimati Road from which the duo were passing was then was Deputy superintendent of police (traffic) Sudhir Kumar admitted that the trucks, trailers and dumpers use to ply at break-neck speed after the no-entry gets over.

"But any change in the no-entry regulations depends on the deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police. I will consult with the senior SP, Anoop T Mathew and try to get the no-entry period in the night extended," said Kumar while talking to The Telegraph.