Karnataka - Bangalore   

Trucks back on road

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Deserted, but not for long: The traffic-ridden Hosur Road in Bangalore was a sea of calm during the truckers’ strike which was on till Tuesday morning.

BANGALORE: Truck operators who had kept away from the road since Friday midnight owing to their ‘inability’ to install speed governors as mandated by the Karnataka High Court, decided to resume their services from Tuesday afternoon following the breather from the Supreme Court.

The decision on Tuesday came after the Supreme Court stayed the order of the High Court, which has provided temporary relief to the truckers. Nearly 2.75 lakh trucks across the State had been withdrawn since Friday, affecting the movement of goods.

B.V. Narayanappa, Secretary of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners’ and Agents Association told The Hindu that soon after the stay order was pronounced in the Apex Court, information was passed on to the lorry owners to commence their operations. “By evening, lorry services in the State had resumed,” he added.

On Sunday night, the combined protest of transporters had received a jolt after Karnataka Maxi Cab and Motor Cab Welfare Association and Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association announced their withdrawal from the strike, leaving only the Lorry Owners’ and Agents Association observing the strike.

A release said that the federation representatives also met Union Minister for Surface Transport T.R. Balu to apprise him of the difficulties in the fitment of speed governors. The release said that installing speed governors would affect transportation of agriculture and fisheries produce.

In another release, the Karnataka Goods Transporters’ Association also called off the protest after the Supreme Court stay. “The truckers have received justice from the Supreme Court and we are proud of our judicial system,” the association said. D. Thangaraj, Principal Secretary, Transport Department said that the Government had been telling the operators to approach the Supreme Court, as it was the only way out. “Our contention has become right and what we intended (by extending the deadline) has been done by the Supreme Court.”

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