The Hindu : Front Page : Talks to avert bus, lorry strike fail

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Saturday, Oct 28, 2006
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Talks to avert bus, lorry strike fail

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Private buses, lorries, tankers and containers in the State will go off the road indefinitely from October 29 midnight as talks held with Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas failed to reach a settlement on Friday evening.

Briefing reporters after the talks with representatives of lorry and bus operators, Mr. Thomas said the Supreme Court had directed the Government to install speed governors and file a compliance affidavit before November 20. Now, the Government had directed the Motor Vehicles Department that fitness certificates for new vehicles be issued only after ensuring that they were fitted with speed governors.

He said the Government did not intend to go back from Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan's declaration that legislation would be framed to settle the issue, but there were limitations. Framing the operative clause of the legislation was not easy and the matter was being sorted out. The Motor Vehicle rules would have to be amended. Certain amendments had also been suggested.

Mr. Thomas said the issue was taken up with Union Minister for Surface Transport T. R. Baalu and he had agreed to consider it favourably. Mr. Thomas urged the operators to reconsider their decision considering the problems it would cause to the public and students. But, they refused to relent and decided to proceed with the stir.

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