Rajkot: The city police on Saturday announced new traffic restrictions, banning the entry of heavy vehicles in the city area to ease congestion and improve road safety. The restrictions, which include different timings for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and light goods vehicles (LGVs), will remain in force daily, limiting movement during peak hours and on busy stretches within the municipal limits.

As per the notification from the police, in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation area, the entry of heavy vehicles will be prohibited from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and movement will not be allowed during this period.

On the stretch of Racecourse Ring Road from Bahumali Bhavan Chowk to Police Headquarters Circle, and from New NCC Chowk to Kishanpara Chowk to District Panchayat Chowk to Bahumali Bhavan, the entry of both heavy and small goods vehicles will be prohibited from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, and movement will not be allowed during this period.

For small goods vehicles (Light Commercial Vehicles), entry into other areas of the city will be prohibited from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and again in the evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Movement will be allowed at other times.

On the road from Madhapar Crossroads on Jamnagar Road to the 150 Feet Ring Road to Punitnagar Water Tank, entry of heavy vehicles will be prohibited from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and again in the evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Movement will not be allowed during these specified times.

The police also clearly defined what will be considered a heavy goods vehicle and what will be classified as a light goods vehicle. According to the notification, goods vehicles whose unladen (empty) weight is more than 12 tons (12,000 kg), or whose payload capacity is more than 3 tons (3,000 kg)—such as trucks, tankers, and trailers attached to tractors—are classified as heavy vehicles.

Additionally, goods vehicles whose unladen weight ranges from 7.5 tons (7,500 kg) up to 12 tons (12,000 kg), or whose payload capacity is more than 3 tons (3,000 kg), are also included in the category of heavy vehicles. DeshGujarat