The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “We will not operate vehicles for youth wing conference of DMK”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“We will not operate vehicles for youth wing conference of DMK”

Madurai Bureau

Maxi cab operators seek withdrawal of government circular

“State Government should not restrict life of vehicles to seven years for granting permit”

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN.

AGAINST PROPOSAL: Road transport workers staging a demonstration in Dindigul on Tuesday.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Tourist vehicle operators have threatened not to operate their vehicles for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam youth wing conference scheduled to be held in Tirunelveli on December 14 and 15, if the State Government did not withdraw its circular stipulating seven-year lifetime for maxi cabs to get tourist permits.

The Virudhunagar district president of Centre of Indian Trade Union for Road Transport, K. Vijayakumar said on Tuesday that if the talks between the motor cabs and maxi cabs operators with the Transport Minister, K.N. Nehru scheduled for Wednesday failed, they would not operate their vehicles for the DMK cadres for the party’s youth wing conference.

Implementation of the circular would affect the livelihood of lakhs of drivers and small tourist operators. “When the government-run buses are permitted to operate even after 15 years, why should only tourist vehicles be targeted. We all carry only passengers,” he said.

Stating that the operators who buy new vehicles spend five years for repaying the bank loans, he said that they could not make money in this trade. Besides, workers like mechanics, electricians, painters, who live on repairing the old vehicles would lose their jobs. “We are not living in Japan to throw our cars after using it for seven years,” he said.

Hundreds of tourist operators staged a dharna near the Collectorate pressing for withdrawal of the circular.

Dindigul

Over 350 members of the Road Transport Workers’ Association took out a rally and staged a demonstration here on Tuesday.

They demanded withdrawal of amendments proposed to renew vehicle permit and restrictions on age of vehicles. The rally started from the Clock tower and ended at Revenue Divisional Officer’s Office near the Head Post Office and staged a demonstration.

“The Government should not restrict the life of vehicles for granting permit for seven years only.”

They appealed to the Government to extend the validity of the lifetime to a maximum of 15 years subject to the maintenance of vehicles every year when produced for examination and issue of fitness certificates. They also criticised sharp increase in service charges for various licences and permits at RTO office.

A majority of taxi, van and auto-rickshaws in the town were off the road since morning. A demonstration was also staged in Theni.

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