The Hindu : Front Page : Transporters to withdraw their vehicles from midnight today

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Transporters to withdraw their vehicles from midnight today

Bangalore Bureau

Over seven lakh commercial vehicles to be off the road in State

Transporters of essential items not to join protest
Vehicles carrying children to schools to be spared

— Photo: N. Bashkaran

Stranded: The strike by transport operators in the past affected trade and industry hard.

BANGALORE: Commercial vehicle operators in the State will withdraw vehicles from roads beginning Friday midnight owing to their “inability” to install speed governors in their vehicles.

However, they have not called it a strike as it could attract contempt of court proceedings. Nearly seven lakh commercial vehicles in the State and an equal number of vehicles from other States will not run on Karnataka roads.

The Karnataka High Court on February 12 directed the State Government to ensure that all commercial vehicles plying in the State are fitted with speed governors by June 30.

The State Government issued a notification on March 28, 2005 making installation of speed governors mandatory for commercial vehicles, the deadline of which was periodically being extended.

Apart from hitting trade and industry hard, the protest will affect operation of IT and BPO companies as cab owners have decided to join the protest.

With private bus and tourist bus operators also joining in, thousands of intra-State and inter-State passengers are likely to be affected.

However, operators of school vans have decided to ply their vehicles so as not to affect the interest of students. Similarly, commercial vehicle operators have said transporters of essential commodities, namely milk, vegetables, newspapers, fuel and medicines, will not join the protest.

Arrangements

Karnataka Maxi Cab and Motor Cab Welfare Association President K. Siddaramaiah told The Hindu that the association had intimated IT/ BPO companies to make alternative arrangements as the operators would not be able to provide services from Friday midnight.

Nearly 15,000 cabs are at the service of these companies.

Bangalore Tourist Taxi Operators’ Association President K.S. Thantri said taxi operators had no other way but to go with their “big brothers.” “Though withdrawal of vehicles severely affects our relationship with customers, we do not have any choice,” he told The Hindu.

Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations president G.R. Shanmugappa blamed the State Government for the mess saying the officials failed to properly apprise the court of the prevailing situation. Though the Centre was addressing the speed governor issue, it was not brought to the court’s notice.

A tourist bus company owner said the operators plying intra-State and inter-State services too would participate in the “withdrawal” of services.

School vans spared

Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Union has extended support to the “withdrawal,” but clarified that vehicles carrying children to schools will not be disturbed in view of the approaching examinations.

Union general secretary K.R. Srivas said that union members would be holding a demonstration on Saturday in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue after the school trips.

There is some apprehension on the part of parents, however, because some children had trouble reaching school on the first day of the strike last time because the vans were stopped on the way by protesters.

Contingency plan

The IT/BPO sector which is affected by this strike says that it has contingency plans in place. While most companies are uncertain whether or not the private vehicles or cabs will operate, they have made alternative arrangement for their employees to stay over.

While some companies have not planned in advance and are waiting for a clearer picture about the participation of private taxis, others companies such as Infosys have made arrangements for extra BMTC buses and accommodation for its employees.

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