To check the rising influx of trucks and other fruits and vegetable ferrying vehicles in the apple season, Himachal Pradesh has decided to monitor and regulate the vehicles with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS).
On Monday, Shimla Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra chaired a meeting of different departments to review the arrangements of transportation, regulation of traffic, improvements of roads to availability of apple boxes during ensuing apple season.
"Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used by police and district administration to monitor movements of trucks engaged for transportation of apples. All SDMs have been asked to ensure registration of all forwarding agents during apple season," said Malhotra.
Estimated apple crop this year will be around 2.5 crore apple boxes, much more than around 1.29 crore last year. "To carry the crop to markets, administration has started contacting truck unions in and outside the States. As many as 5000 trucks will be mobilised during this time to carry the crop to different locations in the country," said Malhotra.
In addition to the trucks, small utility vehicles will also be arranged for transportation of apples. "Freight charges will be fixed and enforced properly by the district administration keeping the convenience in mind of growers and transporters," he said.
President of Shimla truck union Balbir Banshtu requested for proper authentication of records of commission agents especially those who come from outside the State to buy crop in Himachal. The Deputy Commissioner directed secretary (marketing) to ensure proper authentication of record of these commission agents.