(1)

No authority to use a heavy vehicle having gross vehicle weight exceeding 16,200 kilograms shall be granted in any area or on any route within the State.

(2)

No authority to use an articulated vehicle or Tractor trailer combination having gross vehicle weight exceeding 22.542 kilograms shall be granted in any area or on any route within the State :

Provided that the Director, Public Vehicles Department, in [Kolkata] [Substituted vide section 5 of the West Bengal Capital City (Change of Name) Act, 2001 (West Bengal Act 18 of 2001) (w.r.e.f. 1.1.2001) for the word 'Calcutta'.] or District Magistrate in district may, in the public interest, on sufficient cause being shown for the relaxation of this rule. by order, on realisation of such fees/taxes, exempt, on such condition as may be specified in the order, any transport vehicle or class of transport vehicles from the operation of sub-rules (1) and (2) of this sub-rule.

(3)

In the case of vehicles of the description under sub-rules (1) and (2) of this rule, if they happen to be used for transport of goods, the Commissioner of Police in [Kolkata] [Substituted vide section 5 of the West Bengal Capital City (Change of Name) Act, 2001 (West Bengal Act 18 of 2001) (w.r.e.f. 1.1.2001) for the word 'Calcutta'.] in consultation with the Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, and the District Magistrate in the districts in consultation with the local Authority and the Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, shall prescribe the hours within which they may ply and the route or routes they may follow and the extent in any area up to which they may operate.