Surat Municipal Corporation Vehicles Found Breaking Rules, 20 Seized

Surat | Gujarat — In a shocking revelation that has sparked outrage among citizens, the very civic body tasked with enforcing cleanliness and order in the city has been caught flouting basic traffic laws. The Surat traffic police have seized 20 vehicles belonging to the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) – including garbage trucks and city buses – for operating without proper number plates or licensed drivers.

The crackdown came in the wake of a fatal accident where a cement-concrete dumper, operating during restricted hours, crushed a man to death. The tragedy forced the traffic department into action against heavy vehicles violating the notification period. While contractors operating under SMC enjoy certain exemptions from restricted hours, they are still legally bound to maintain vehicle fitness, readable number plates, and ensure that drivers possess valid licenses.

A Shocking Breach of Responsibility

According to ACP S.R. Tandel (Traffic), the violations found in SMC’s own fleet were nothing short of alarming.“We found serious defects in the Municipal Corporation’s vehicles. Most had damaged or unreadable number plates, and to our surprise, none of the 20 drivers had a valid driving license at the time of inspection,”said ACP Tandel.

The seized vehicles include two city buses that ferry hundreds of commuters daily, along with garbage trucks responsible for transporting waste to disposal sites.

The Hypocrisy of Rule Enforcement

Citizens are questioning how the SMC can impose strict rules on private transport operators while blatantly ignoring them in its own operations.

“If the civic body itself doesn’t follow the law, what moral right does it have to penalize ordinary citizens? This is utter hypocrisy and puts public safety at risk,”said Rajesh Desai, a local commuter rights activist.

The discovery has cast a dark shadow over SMC’s claims of operational efficiency and road safety awareness campaigns.

Fitness and Safety Compromised

Beyond the missing number plates and absent driver licenses, the vehicles were found in a poor state of maintenance, raising concerns about their roadworthiness. Police also flagged the absence of proper seatbelts and questioned whether the SMC’s fleet undergoes mandatory fitness checks.

“Such negligence is unacceptable. We are reviewing every municipal vehicle in the city to ensure compliance,” ACP Tandel added.

Public Demands Action

Public sentiment has been swift and unforgiving. Social media platforms in Surat are flooded with criticism, with many demanding disciplinary action against the officials responsible. Civic activists are calling for an independent audit of SMC’s transport operations and for transparency in its contracts with private operators.