Apr 14 (BNP): India has introduced stricter enforcement rules for overloaded vehicles, combining heavier penalties, mandatory unloading of excess cargo, and advanced digital monitoring to improve road safety and protect highway infrastructure.
Under the revised framework, vehicles found carrying excess load will face a fine of ₹20,000, along with an additional ₹2,000 for every extra tonne beyond the permitted limit. Authorities will also require immediate unloading of excess cargo before the vehicle is allowed to continue its journey.
Repeat violations may attract further action, including suspension of driving licences and cancellation of transport permits for up to three months, tightening compliance across the transport sector.
To strengthen enforcement, toll plazas across the country are being upgraded with weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems that can detect overloaded vehicles without requiring them to stop. Penalties for overloading will be collected through the FASTag system, enabling automated and cashless enforcement.
In addition, violation data will be linked with the VAHAN database to improve monitoring and ensure coordinated action against repeat offenders. Both drivers and transport operators will be held responsible for ensuring compliance with load regulations.
Vehicles carrying protruding or oversized loads beyond permissible height and width limits will also face penalties of ₹20,000.
Officials have made it mandatory for overloaded vehicles to be detained until excess cargo is removed, reinforcing strict compliance measures. The rules are being enforced more rigorously on major freight corridors, particularly in mining and industrial transport routes where overloading has been a persistent concern.
