Mumbai, Sep 5 (TNN): Anticipating heavy traffic on the Mumbai-Goa highway (NH17) over the weekend as citizens will head for Konkan for Ganpati festival, the RTO has decided to ban entry of trucks and heavy goods vehicle (16 tonnes and above) on the route from Friday to Monday.

But the RTO will allow heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities. Private cars and buses will be checked at the highway entry and those found unfit will be detained. Cranes and manpower will be kept ready in case of mishaps.

"Officials of five special RTO squads that have been formed will be posted along the Mumbai-Sindhudurg route. They will keep an eye on all the vehicles and ban the entry of heavy goods vehicles for four days. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply on the highway during daytime for ten days, starting Monday. This will reduce traffic congestion and facilitate movement of private cars and buses ferrying passengers to their native places in Konkan," said state transport commissioner V N More.

Regional transport officer K T Golani said that action will be taken against those found using private vehicles for "commercial transport".