Kuala Belait - A recently completed $233,000 project to upgrade the Land Transport Department (LTD) Inspection Post at the Sungai Tujoh Border Control Post in Kuala Belait was handed over in an official ceremony yesterday.

Present at the ceremony was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohammad Taha.

During the ceremony, Pengiran Mohidin bin Pengiran Mohd Daud, Assistant Director of the Public Works Department ( JKR), Branch Head for Belait and Tutong, handed over the keys to the new facility to Haji Khalid bin Haji Mustafa, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications.

The upgrading project, completed in June last year, involved the construction of a permanent building and replacing an existing old cabin port. It is now equipped with basic facilities including a heavy vehicle weighing machine to oversee heavy and commercial vehicles' entry to Brunei at the border control post.

A total of 12,941 heavy vehicles entered Brunei Darussalam through border control posts last year, an average of 900 - 1,200 on a monthly basis, according to statistics by the LTD.

"Typically, heavy vehicles that enter the country include trucks, trailers, buses and tankers."

It is equipped with a dynamic weighing machine that has the capacity to weigh vehicles of up to 20,000 kg 'per-axel,' and LTD says it will increase its inspection intensity for heavy vehicles that carry loads or passengers.

"This is vital to ensure the weight of vehicles does not exceed 'eight tonnes per-axel' and in preserving the safety and quality of roads in the country. Among the causes of uneven road surfaces are the operation of heavy vehicles that exceed the weight limit on Brunei's roads," LTD added.

It also hopes to provide "fair competition in the transportation industry among entrepreneurs and in protecting infrastructures such as roads and bridges in the country"

In ensuring better inspections, LTD has also extended the placement of its officers at border control posts in the country from 6am to 10pm daily.

Apart from the Border Control Post in Sungai Tujoh, existing weighing machines are also operational at the Ujong Jalan Border Control Post in Temburong and the Ferry Terminal Control Post. Meanwhile, the Labu Temburong Border Control Post will have its own weighing machine in the future.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin