Maharashtra: LMO takes action on weigh bridges at Jalgaon for showing faulty reading

Legal Metrology Organisation (LMO) has recently taken action against four weigh bridges operating at Jalgaon. The weigh bridges used to monitor weight of heavy vehicles passing through state check post.

Probe revealed that the weigh bridges were not properly calibrated by the LMO and were showing faulty readings. Sources in LMO said that this could be purposely done by weight bridge operators to extract money from truck drivers by threatening to penalise them.

"Regional Transport Office (RTO) appoints private weigh bridge contractors. These weight bridges are being used at the state borders and check posts and when the vehicles enters the state limits, these weigh bridges check the weight of goods carried by the heavy vehicles. If the vehicles are found to be overloaded, then they are penalised by the RTO," said an LMO official.

As per the sources, complaints had been received by the LMO from truck drivers that weigh bridges at Muktai Nagar in Jalgaon had not been showing proper weight of heavy vehicles. "There were allegations that when the vehicles leave their respective states and when they enter in Maharashtra, the weigh bridges at Muktai Nagar check post shows overloading of goods, resulting in penalty being paid. We then checked the weigh bridge and found that four of them were showing faulty readings," said the official.

Another official alleged that tampering is done purposely so that money can be extracted from drivers. Controller of LMO Amitabh Gupta said that weigh bridges needs to be regularly calibrated, stamped and verified by LMO.

"We have sealed four weigh bridges at Muktai Nagar after giving notice to them," he said.