A mini-truck parking area in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14: Mini-truck owners today demanded relaxation of the official ban on entry of heavy vehicles into the city from 8am till 10pm, threatening to launch a strike if their demand was not met.

People, too, have voiced support for the mini-truck owners as a complete ban on the vehicles’ entry to the city is causing problems for them.

Police have prohibited entry of heavy vehicles to the city from 8am till 10pm, to prevent road mishaps, which had become frequent. However, this 14-hour ban on goods carriers with six or more wheels has also hit services affecting the people.

“If I want to shift my furniture from one place to another, I have to hire a truck during night hours as the ban prohibits the vehicle from entering the city during daytime. The movement of these vehicles needs to be regulated but completely banning their entry is not rational,” said Baramunda resident Hrushikesh Mohapatra.

Traders, too, have been facing problems and incurring losses as vehicles loaded with goods have to wait outside the city during peak hours. Besides, incidents such as theft and extortionists’ harassing the truck employees have made things worse.

“Perishable commodities perish when trucks have to wait for a long time before reaching the markets. Consumers, too, have to wait for long to buy things,” said Partha Sarathi Senapati, a trader.

The Mini-truck Owners’ Association today demanded that instead of banning entry of their vehicles for 14 hours at a stretch, the police should allow them between 1pm and 3pm to get into the city as during this period vehicular movement is not much.

“Those vehicles that have entered the city before 8am can go out while those waiting outside the city territory can enter and unload the goods. It will be helpful for common people as well as the police since there are less chance of traffic chaos in the city,” said Ganesh Mahari, president of the Bhubaneswar Mini-truck Owners’ Association.

They said that despite meeting police officials, including the city police head, no step had been taken. As mostly local traders depends on them and residents take their help when needed they wanted a dedicated parking lot inside or just on the outskirts of the city.

A police official, however, said the ban on the entry of heavy vehicles would continue, but they would look into the suggestion given by the truck owners.

“If these vehicles enter the city, it will create chaos and controlling their movement will not be easy. Still we will look into other possibilities,” said a senior traffic police official. The truck owners also blamed the police control room vans and regional transport officials for harassing them on many occasions.

“We had met the transport minister and informed him about our problems. If the government do not pay any heed to any of our demands, we will resort to strike in February,” a member of the association said.