Autos loaded with rods risky for commuters

RANCHI: Autos and trucks laden with iron rods and steel sheets on busy thoroughfares have become a common sight in the city ignoring traffic rules - which eventually can become fatal for other commuters.
"I travel from Ratu Road everyday and I can always see at least one auto carrying iron rods. These rods are really dangerous and if one is riding his two-wheeler behind the auto and the auto driver applies break suddenly, these rods can even be fatal," said Pramod Ranjan, a businessman.
Be it on Main Road, Ratu Road, Uppar Bazaar or Harmu bypass road, one can spot such vehicles. The commuters complain that these autos drive rashly leading to accidents. Pradeep Kumar, who was recently injured by one of such auto carrying iron rods, recalled the horror. "I was riding next to one of the autos when the driver suddenly took a turn without giving an indicator. As it negotiated the turn suddenly, I could not apply breaks and the iron rods protruding from the auto injured my arm forcing me to take several stitches," Kumar said.
The iron rods are carried by the autos on the demand of builders and shop owners selling building materials. The shopkeepers say they use the autos because they are cheap and easily available. Sanjay Pal, an owner of a shop selling building materials, said, "We hire autos when we have to send rods and sheets to a construction spot on the demand of builder. We hire autos because they are easily available and charge very less. Also hiring a big truck for delivering 10 iron rods do not make any sense," he added.
Carrying iron rods on autos is not permitted during the day on busy roads but the traffic police hardly take any action against the rule violators. Traffic SP Chandrashekhar Prasad said, "These people (auto drivers) often carry rods on busy roads were traffic constables are not deployed so we are unable to stop many of them."
However, autos carrying iron roads is a common sight at major roundabouts like Lalpur Chowk, Ratu Road Chowk and Argora Chowk where two or three policemen are deployed anytime of the day. Reacting to it, Prasad said, "Every time a traffic constable sees an auto carrying iron roads on busy roads, he ensures to slap fine on the driver."