Heavy vehicles continue to roam Ahmedabad roads as accidents raise serious safety concerns

A fresh accident involving a dumper truck near the Shivranjani bridge area on Wednesday has once again raised troubling questions over the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles inside Ahmedabad city limits during prohibited hours, despite multiple notifications issued by the city police restricting their entry.

The latest incident, in which a woman riding an Activa scooter sustained injuries after reportedly coming into contact with a dumper truck near Shivranjani around 1.30 pm, has reignited public concern over road safety and enforcement failures. While the woman sustained fracture to her leg, the incident once again highlighted the growing risk posed by heavy vehicles operating on busy city roads during daytime hours.

The accident comes amid a series of recent fatal and near-fatal incidents involving dumpers, trucks and buses across Ahmedabad. Over the past several months, multiple cases involving speeding heavy vehicles crushing two-wheeler riders, pedestrians and cyclists have been reported from different parts of the city, sparking outrage among residents and commuters.

Questions are now being raised over why such vehicles continue to enter densely populated urban stretches despite clear prohibitory orders issued by the Ahmedabad City Police.

According to a notification issued by former police commissioner Sanjay Srivastava under the Gujarat Police Act and Gujarat Motor Vehicles Rules, the movement of heavy and medium goods vehicles inside Ahmedabad city is prohibited between 8 am and 11 pm, except under specific exemptions and designated routes.

The order, first issued in March 2022 and subsequently modified in 2023, clearly states that only light motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 7,500 kg are permitted unrestricted movement within city limits. Heavy goods vehicles, passenger buses with seating capacity exceeding 33 persons, tractor-trolleys and other large commercial vehicles are barred from entering city roads during restricted hours unless special permission is granted.

The notification was introduced specifically to “prevent increasing pollution and control road accidents in Ahmedabad city” and warned that violators would face legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Gujarat Police Act.

However, commuters and residents allege that enforcement on the ground remains weak, with dumpers, construction vehicles and heavy transport trucks frequently seen moving through arterial roads during peak traffic hours.

Traffic experts and local residents have repeatedly pointed out that many of these vehicles operate recklessly through congested junctions such as Shivranjani, Prahladnagar, Satellite, Iskcon crossroads, SG Highway, Narol, Sarkhej, Gota, and 132 Feet Ring Road, where a large number of two-wheelers and pedestrians use the roads daily.

Citizens have also questioned whether permissions meant for emergency utility work and essential supply vehicles are being misused, allowing unrestricted entry of heavy vehicles into the city.

The latest incident has once again intensified demands for stricter enforcement, increased surveillance and accountability from civic and traffic authorities.

“If the restrictions already exist on paper, why are these vehicles still roaming freely across the city during the day? How many more accidents will it take before the rules are actually enforced?” asked a resident near Shivranjani crossroads.

Despite repeated notifications, awareness drives and official warnings over the years, heavy vehicles continue to remain a common sight on Ahmedabad roads during restricted hours — often with little visible enforcement action.

Recent major accidents in Ahmedabad involving heavy vehicles such as dumpers, trucks and buses.

February 21, 2026 — A 22-year-old youth, Mustakim, was killed after a dumper truck allegedly without number plates rammed into his scooter near Royal Akbar crossroads on Juhapura Road during restricted hours. Residents questioned how the heavy vehicle was allowed inside the city despite the no-entry notification.

April 15, 2026 — Two persons, identified as Narpatbhai Danfi (27) and Sushilkumar Prasad, were killed after a dumper truck hit their motorcycle on the descending stretch of the Gota flyover towards Vaishnodevi Circle. The accident caused massive traffic congestion on SG Highway. Police revealed that the dumper driver involved in the fatal Gota bridge accident did not possess a valid driving licence. The dumper owner was also booked for allegedly allowing an unlicensed driver to operate the heavy vehicle.

April 2026 — A 37-year-old pedestrian, Dhiren Parmar, was killed near Vadaj Circle after being run over by a speeding dumper truck in a hit-and-run incident. The driver fled the scene immediately after the crash.

May 2026 — A woman riding an Activa scooter sustained injuries near Shivranjani bridge after reportedly coming into contact with a dumper truck during daytime hours, despite restrictions on heavy vehicle movement inside city limits.