The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Will act against transporters if life is hit’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 23, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Will act against transporters if life is hit’

Karnataka Bureau

Arrangements made to ensure movement of essential commodities during commercial vehicle operators’ stir

Control room set up at Transport Commissioner’s Office
47 platoons of KSRP and DAR to be deployed in Bangalore

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Opposition to decision: Over seven lakh commercial vehicles are will go off the road from midnight on Friday.

BANGALORE: Geared up to face the indefinite protest by commercial vehicle operators from Friday midnight, the State Government has indicated that it will not hesitate to act against the operators if things go beyond control and public life is affected.

Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao told presspersons here on Friday that the Government was for the implementation of the High Court ruling on mandatory installation of speed governors in all commercial vehicles. If the operators disobey the court order, necessary action will be initiated, he said.

On whether the Government would invoke the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the protesting operators, Mr. Rao said the matter would be considered by the Government.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, Transport Department, D. Thangaraj in a statement here said the Government has made all arrangements to ensure that movement of essential commodities is not affected owing to the truckers’ protest.

He said services of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses would be provided to employees who had engaged services of contract vehicles. A similar facility was available for schools too.

A control room working round-the-clock has been set up at Transport Commissioner’s Office with telephone number 22352434 and fax number 22353783. The State-level task force meeting would be convened every day at 4.30 p.m. at the Transport Commissioner’s Office, wherein officers from police, oil companies, railways, Food Corporation of India, APMC, KMF and Food and Civil Supplies Departments would take stock of the situation.

Security

Bangalore City Police Commissioner Neelam Achuta Rao in a release said the police had intensified security to ensure public tranquillity in view of the protest. He said 47 platoons of KSRP and DAR would be deployed at strategic locations in the city while nearly 6,000 policemen will be on duty.

The Commissioner said representatives of operators’ associations had been warned not to coerce or intimidate any operator to participate in the protest. In emergency, public can call the Control Room (100) or 22250999, 22943322 and 22942222.

BMTC Director (Security and Vigilance) P.S. Sandhu in a release said the corporation would ensure availability of public transport to the maximum extent possible.

In a separate release, Mr. Thangaraj said the cost of speed governor in Karnataka was almost equal to that in Delhi. The clarification was in response to operators’ allegations that speed governors were available at Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 in Delhi and Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 16,000 in Karnataka.

As ascertained from Delhi Transport Department, the cost of a gadget ranges from Rs. 13,800 to Rs. 21,000. In Karnataka too, the gadgets are available at the same price. Only local taxes (VAT, surcharge etc.,) in Karnataka vary from Delhi and other parts of the country, he said.

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

Karnataka