BENGALURU: With no sign of the planned nation-wide strike by transporters from July 20 being called off, the state transport department on Tuesday announced that it has taken steps to deal with the stir. The department has set up a task force committee at Bengaluru and at district level along with control rooms in each district so that the members of the public or truck operators can call them for assistance. The committee will work towards ensuring that the supply of essential commodities is not affected during the strike.
The strike call — given by the All India Motor Transport Congress last month — is being supported by the South Zone Motor Transporters Welfare Association and the Bus Operators Confederation of India. One of the major demands of the transporters is a uniform pricing policy for diesel across the country with low prices and a quarterly revision method. Other demands include a toll barrier-free India with indirect taxation for toll collection, a reduction in third party insurance premium via exemption of GST, and a national permit scheme for passenger and tourist vehicles.
On Tuesday, a statement by the department said, “The transport department has constituted a state level task force committee in the office of the commissioner and a district level task force committee and control room in each district at RTO offices which will function round the clock during the strike period for ensuring uninterrupted movement of essential commodities. In addition to this, a control room is also set up in the transport commissioner’s office. People can call 080-22225805 and 080-22213785 for any assistance.”