Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad traffic police have relaxed restriction on the entry of ready-mix concrete (RMC) trucks on a trial basis for one month from Wednesday.The RMC trucks can operate within Pimpri Chinchwad between 11am and 5pm from Monday to Friday. A ban on the movement of heavy vehicles on city roads from 8am to 12pm and 4pm to 10pm is already in force in Pimpri Chinchwad.“We have only relaxed the restrictions on the movement of RMC vehicles. The ban on other heavy vehicles will continue,” deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vikrant Deshmukh of the Pimpri Chinchwad police told TOI.“This change will remain in effect on a trial basis for a month. We will decide on whether to continue it after preparing the final standard operating procedure (SOP) for RMC trucks,” Deshmukh said.The Pimpri Chinchwad traffic branch had imposed the ban on the movement of heavy vehicles during the morning and evening peak hours because they were involved in several accidents and fatalities.Deshmukh said the traffic branch recently held a meeting with members of the RMC association, who requested a relaxation in the timings for RMC trucks.“The vehicles did not get enough time to transport concrete from RMC plants to construction sides due to restrictions. Following the meeting, the decision was taken to relax the timings for RMC trucks,” he said.“On Saturdays and Sundays, these vehicles will not be allowed on city roads during the evening peak hours from 4pm to 9pm,” he said.Deshmukh said the police had laid down certain conditions while relaxing the restrictions. These include installing 360-degree cameras on every RMC truck and deploying a cleaner with each vehicle.“The association members were also told that it was their responsibility to ensure that drivers did not operate the vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Before a truck leaves the plant, the driver must undergo a breathalyser test,” Deshmukh said.
