OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: The restriction of speed limit of vehicles at 40 km/hr on the Jwhwlao Daimalu Road from Kokrajhar to Karigaon, the main road to enter the capital town of BTC, by the DTO, Kokrajhar, has hit hard emergency and essential services. Many people have expressed anger over the DTO for fixing speed limit at 40km/hr as doctors, medical staff and officials of essential services have been fined Rs. 2,000 in the name of violation of speed limit.
Talking to this reporter, Raman Mashahary, AGM of Telecom Services, said that he had to ply to Bongaigaon from Kokrajhar and cover the distance within 1.15 hours daily but the sudden message of fine Rs. 2,000 that he received from the DTO, Kokrajhar surprised him as he had no idea of speed limit up to only 40 km/hr in Kokrajhar. He said, "I have no objection to the restriction of speed limit and imposing fine for violation. But there should be proper guidelines from the government and proper information must be given to the masses." He questioned what was the meaning of emergency and essential services if officials on duty were fined for violation of speed limit?
An official at Balajan CHC, Mahim Chandra Basumatary said it was very unfortunate that the officials of both emergency and essential services had to face the brunt of the DTO's restriction on speed limit. He said that he travelled to Balajan CHC, which is just about 12 km from Kokrajhar town, on July 27 and received message of fine of Rs. 2,000 although his speed was slow. He added that he received message of fine on two different occasions and the timing of violation and issuance of fine did not match. Interestingly, there had been no announcement through FLS from the DIPRO Office regarding the restriction of speed limit of vehicles in Kokrajhar. Besides, there was no public notice, advertisement or news about restriction in Kokrajhar. People have expressed their resentment over this.
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