Transporters to withdraw vehicles in Karnataka from midnight today

Transporters to withdraw vehicles in Karnataka from midnight today

Bangalore Bureau

Transporters of essential commodities not to join

School van operators to ply as usual

BANGALORE: Commercial vehicle operators in Karnataka will withdraw vehicles from roads beginning Friday midnight owing to their “inability” to install speed governors in the 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. The operators have decided to appeal against this order before the Supreme Court.

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, 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.
Alternatives urged

Karnataka Maxi Cab and Motor Cab Welfare Association president K. Siddaramaiah told The Hindu that the association has intimated IT/ BPO companies to make alternative arrangements as the operators will not be able to provide services from Friday midnight. Nearly 15,000 cabs are at the service of these companies.

A similar view was expressed by K.T. Rajashekhar, CEO of Bangalore-based SRS Travels, which offers a few thousand vehicles to IT/ BPO companies in the city. He said the companies are contemplating other options, including hiring BMTC buses.

Bangalore Tourist Taxi Operators’ Association president K.S. Thantri said taxi operators have 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.