SMC Vehicle Overloaded with Garden Waste Sparks Safety Concerns

Surat : A blatant violation of traffic safety rules by a Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) garden department vehicle has raised serious concerns among commuters. The vehicle, bearing registration number GJ05GV2777, was spotted on the Majura Gate Flyover Bridge traveling toward Udhna Darwaja on January 2, 2025, overloaded with garden waste, including branches and leaves, transported without any covering.

This hazardous transportation posed a significant danger to commuters, as the loose debris could have dislodged due to vibrations from the bumpy road. To make matters worse, three SMC employees in uniform were precariously seated atop the vehicle’s driver cabin, risking their own lives and compromising road safety for others.

Public Outcry Over Reckless Behavior

The incident has sparked outrage among Surat residents, who are questioning why government vehicles are allowed to flout traffic rules while ordinary citizens face strict penalties.

Rajiv Mehta, a commuter who witnessed the incident, said, “If this had been a private vehicle, it would have been fined immediately. Why should government vehicles have a free pass to endanger lives?”

Another commuter, Preeti Shah, shared her concern: “I was driving behind this vehicle, and I was scared that a branch could fall and cause an accident. It’s shocking that SMC vehicles operate like this despite strict traffic rules.”

Government Accountability Under Question

The Gujarat state Home Minister, Harsh Sanghvi, has been vocal about enforcing strict traffic regulations, issuing warnings about penalties, license cancellations, and FIRs for violations. However, this incident highlights a glaring double standard—government vehicles under SMC are blatantly disregarding these laws.

Both the SMC and the Police Department actively monitor citizens using CCTV networks to enforce hefty fines for minor infractions. Yet, these systems seem to overlook violations by government vehicles.

Citizens are demanding accountability and urgent action. They have called for the SMC to: Penalize those responsible for this incident, Enforce proper waste transportation practices, such as mandatory load coverings, Prohibit employees from riding in unsafe positions on vehicles, Implement a zero-tolerance policy for traffic violations by government departments.

The safety of Surat’s roads depends not only on citizens but also on the government setting an example. As Kunal Patel, another commuter, remarked, “If government vehicles don’t follow the rules, how can they expect us to?”