Officials of the Regional Transportation Office (RTO) and the traffic police had seized around 20 DJ trucks for illegal modifications eight days ago, after issuing notice to the owners to get the vehicles to their original state.
With the festival season fast approaching, Band Kala Vikas Pratishthan, a representative body of brass band groups organised ‘Stage Dharna’ at the RTO premises yesterday.u00a0
Wrong classification
They claim that their vehicles should not be classified as DJ trucks and be seized, as apart from being modified on the outside, they are only used to carry organs and synthesizers, unlike actual DJ trucks that have sound systems and a wall of speakers.
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Muted: A modified truck used by brass bands to carry an organ and a synthesizer while the group plays at marriages and other festive occasions
“Brass bands are an old tradition in the city and there is huge demand for such groups during the Ganesh festival, which will start in the next 15 days. We cannot change the modified structure because it is fixed. Modification costs between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000 and we are prepared to pay additional taxes or reduce the volume of sound,” said Sunil Ovhal, owner of a brass band group.
He added that in the past week, members of the Band Kala Vikas Pratishthan have met police and RTO officials to discuss the issue.
“There is vast difference between DJ trucks and our modified vehicles. Our vehicles are modified for the organ and synthesizer, which doesn’t disturb people by creating major noise. Brass bands are the main attraction at marriages and other processions.
DJ trucks are completely different as they carry a wall of speakers and create sound pollution. So we are demanding that the officials not consider our vehicles as DJ trucks,” said Satish Gavali, president of the Pratishthan.
The RTO had issues notice to owners two months ago, dissuading modification of vehicles and ordered that the original structure be retained.
Eight days ago, the traffic police and RTO detained 20 DJ trucks and informed the owners that they had failed to follow the orders as per the notice.
“Changes or modifications to vehicles, which change the overall appearance cannot be made without permission from the RTO. We informed them to give written confirmation about retaining the original structure of the vehicles before seizing the trucks,” said Arun Yeola, Regional Transport Officer, Pune.u00a0
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