LUCKNOW: The humble lungi, the arguable “comfort attire” of truck drivers across India, is under serious glare in

.

Drivers and helpers of all commercial vehicles in the state will have to cough up Rs 2,000 if caught wearing lungi and vest, the steep penalty under new provisions of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act meant to strictly implement a dress code that has been in existence for decades, but never enforced.

The drivers will have to sport full-length pants paired with shirts/tees and also wear shoes when behind the wheel. The new provisions also push for uniforms for drivers of all school vehicles.

ASP (Traffic), Lucknow, Poornendu Singh told TOI that the dress code was part of the MV Act since 1939 and when the act was amended in 1989, a penalty of Rs 500 was introduced for violation of the same. “Now, a

of Rs 2,000 will be imposed for dress code violation under Section 179 of the MV Act, 2019,” Singh said, adding that the rule and penalty were applicable on school vehicle drivers as well. Additional transport commissioner of UP Gangaphal told TOI that the central MV Act gave states the power to formulate certain traffic safety rules and pull up those who ignored these rules.

“Under the law, driving trucks, tractors and other such heavy and light commercial vehicles wearing lungi and vest is not permitted. One must wear full pants, proper shirt and closed shoes. The rule applies to helpers or conductors too,” he said, adding that government vehicle drivers would not be spared either if they violated the dress code.