Transport operators threaten strike

Transport operators — including truckers,bus operators and light commercial vehicle owners — have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of 5 December,if the issue of illegal collection of toll tax is not addressed by the state government.

All India Motor Vehicle Transport Congress (AIMVTC),an apex organisation of transport operators having over 72 lakh vehicles under it,today announced this at a press conference. “We are not against the collection of toll tax by the government. With several roads being handed over to private operators for operation and maintenance,toll tax collection is mostly whimsical and arbitrary,” said G R Shanmugappa,president,AIMVTC.

He pointed out that with an increase in road transport every year,private operators make profits and recover costs earlier than their lease period. In such a case the operators propose that once the private contractor recovers the capital investment along with the interest – as well as earn “substantial profit” – then the collection of toll tax from these highways should immediately be stopped.