Noida: The transport department has ordered a three-day crackdown on buses carrying luggage beyond permissible limits on rooftop carriers. The drive, beginning Sept 28, will cover Noida, Ghaziabad and 14 other divisions across UP.The drive comes two days after nine passengers were burnt to death when a private bus went up in flames on Yamuna Expressway near Jewar. The bus, which was carrying 35 passengers from Delhi’s Kashmere Gate to Mahoba, was allegedly carrying luggage far beyond the permitted limit.On Friday, transport commissioner Ashutosh Niranjan issued the directive under ‘Operation Kavach 2.0’, ordering intensive checks on nine expressways. These include Yamuna Expressway, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Ghaziabad-Kanpur Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Gorakhpur Link Expressway and Ganga Expressway.“Locally, the drive covers Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Ghaziabad-Kanpur Expressway, along with Delhi-Meerut Expressway that runs through Ghaziabad,” said Udit Narayan Pandey, the Noida ARTO.The teams will crack down on buses routinely carrying commercial luggage on roofs or carriers beyond the prescribed limit. “The permissible luggage limit is 15kg per person. But often, we see the rules being flouted,” Pandey said.Ghaziabad ARTO Amit Ranjan Rai said the drive would focus on inter-district and inter-state passenger buses. Teams will work in shifts at key entry points, removing excess rooftop cargo on the spot and taking further action under rules.UP Roadways buses will be kept ready for passengers offloaded from unauthorised vehicles. Police assistance has also been sought, while daily enforcement data will be submitted through a prescribed Google Sheet. Deputy transport commissioners have been made nodal officers to oversee the implementation.
