The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Transport Department cracks the whip

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Transport Department cracks the whip

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, DEC. 7. The Transport Department has launched a drive against owners using private vehicles as taxis and tourist cabs, causing huge loss to the Government.

The Deputy Transport Commissioner, K. Yogarajan, told The Hindu that various taxi and tourist cab operators associations had complained that a large number of cars and maxi cabs, having own vehicle permits, were being operated as tourist vehicles.

Evading the tourist taxi permit charges, proportionate tax and the inter-State permit tax, these vehicles were being operated at a competitive tariff affecting the prospects of genuine tourist cab operators.

Vehicles seized

In the drive conducted simultaneously at Sulur, Mettupalayam and Coimbatore today, 13 vehicles used as tourist cabs were seized. Three taxis that used LPG as fuel were also seized.

Legal action taken

Cases had been registered against the vehicle owners and legal proceedings initiated.

Besides, the department collected quarterly tourist permit tax from these vehicle owners and initiated proceedings for suspending the registration certificate as well as the driving licence of the driver.

The drive would go on till the practice was curbed considerably. Special teams led by Regional Transport Officers, D. Mani (North), S.S. Velumani (South) and M. Rajendran (Enforcement) had been formed for the purpose.

Officials in Mettupalayam, Pollachi and Tirupur had been asked to step up vigil from their end, the Deputy Transport Commissioner said.

As part of the exercise to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act, the department conducted a special drive in which 61 cases of drunken driving were booked last month and Rs. 21,500 was realised as fine.

Fitness certificates of 104 vehicles were cancelled for excess emission of smoke and 213 air horns were removed. Efforts were taken to streamline parking of buses in bays at the railway station entrance and action was initiated against 13 buses for violating the department fiat.

"Despite rigid enforcement, the chaos continues, hence the Transport Department is soliciting suggestions from consumer bodies for modifying the traffic pattern in the area. The proposal will be placed before the traffic advisory committee for consideration," Mr. Yogarajan said.

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