The Hindu : Trucks hit the road as strike is off

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 24, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Trucks hit the road as strike is off

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE April 23. Lorries began to ply in the State on Wednesday evening after the 10-day strike by truckers was called off nationwide.

Initial reports said that the strike was withdrawn after talks between the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), representing various associations of truckers, and the Union Government proved to be fruitful.

B.Channa Reddy, President, Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners' Associations, confirmed that the strike had been called off. "Yes. It has been called off nationwide ... Lorries must already be on the road," he said.

Asked if the Centre had given any specific assurances on the truckers' demands, Mr. Reddy replied in the affirmative, but refused to go into details. Reports, however, said that the Centre had agreed to set up a committee to discuss the issue of toll tax and ask the Finance Ministry to reconsider the imposition of Rs. 10,000 excise duty on the truck chassis. The Petroleum Minister, Ram Naik, is also said to have assured the truckers that the oil companies would be asked to bring down diesel prices, whose revision is slated for April 30.

Meanwhile, movement of perishable commodities to and from Bangalore was normal, a Transport Department release said.

The release, issued before the strike was called off, said that 2,546 quintals of vegetables arrived in 17 trucks, 204 tempos, and tractors. Of that, 1,359 quintals were sent to districts, and to other States by nine lorries and 22 tempos. Bananas (2,901 quintals) had come from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the release said.

From the Yeshwantpur APMC Yard, 461 vehicles, including five buses, 226 tempos, 20 lorries, 140 goods autorickshaws, and 37 jeeps and cars moved vegetables and food grains. Four KSRTC buses and one Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation bus carried onions and potatoes to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

HOPCOMS reported normal supply of vegetables and fruits on Wednesday. The BMTC was plying 800 vehicles on different routes in Bangalore. The buses have had two rows of seats removed to facilitate the carrying of more goods.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Trucks hit the road as strike is off

KSRTC calls for tenders for bus terminus

Dharam Singh warns contractors

Ghorpade for activity mapping by local bodies

KMDC extends financial aid to 11,000 people

2 with SARS symptoms quarantined

Man killed in road mishap