Hyderabad:�The Telangana Lorry Owners Association has raised strong objections to the continued operation of check-posts by state transport authorities at the borders, despite clear directives from the Centre abolishing such posts.
Association president Manchireddy Rajender Reddy said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had asked all states to dismantle border check-posts in view of the digital integration achieved through VAHAN and SARATHI platforms, which maintain centralised records of vehicles and drivers.
“When the Centre has made it clear that these checks only delay freight movement, waste fuel, and prolong travel time, why is the Telangana government still running them?” Reddy questioned.
He pointed out that the state had long resisted integration with VAHAN and SARATHI but had now begun transitioning. “Now that Telangana has adopted SARATHI, the government should urgently shift to a centralised system and remove all RTA check-posts,” he said.
The association also referred to Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s remarks that India will gradually do away with toll booths, as 93 per cent of vehicles now use FASTag for toll payments.
When contacted, officials from the Telangana transport department confirmed that there are currently 22 check-posts at the state’s borders. “This is a state policy decision,” an official said, adding that any removal of check-posts would have to be decided by the state government.
