BENGALURU: Vehicles including trucks, maxi cabs and tempos will be off the road on Tuesday as various transport associations have decided to stage a protest. The protestors will gherao the offices of the Transport Commissioner and the district Regional Transport Organisation (RTO) offices. Protesting against the government’s rule of installing speed governors in old vehicles as well, commercial vehicle owners have been alleging that the Transport Department was resorting to pressure tactics like checkposts every 50 km to stop and fine vehicles which was taking a toll on travel times.
The associations have also alleged that the decision by the department to allow speed limiting devices by only three companies was the result of corruption and that this was pushing the prices of these devices to as much as Rs 15,000 when other vendors sell them for Rs 3,000.
Another issue is the delay in rollback of new automation fee announced by the Transport Department in January this year. The fee, significantly higher for RTO services like renewal of fitness certificates, issuing of driver’s licence and other services, was supposed to be rolled back after the then Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy committed to it in April. However, this has not happened yet as the file is with the Finance department, sources said.
“Our state is also failing to reach bi-lateral arrangements with neighbouring states and as a result while a vehicle entering into Karnataka from Kerala has to pay Rs 900, Karnataka vehicles have to pay Rs 4,500. While KSRTC and Kerala Transport Corporation have reached agreements, why can’t this be allowed for private operators,” asked G.R. Shanmugappa, president, Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners and Agents Association.
“All our members will stay off the roads tomorrow as a mark of solidarity for the protest. If the government fails to meet our demands, we will intensify the strike,” said Tanveer Pasha, president, O.T.U. Drivers and Owners Association.