Commercial vehicles to go on strike from May 31

Commercial vehicles to go on strike from May 31

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 25, 2012: Owners and drivers of commercial vehicles in DK will also join the indefinite strike, which the motor unions have announced, from May 31 midnight.

The purpose of the strike is to protest against the state government’s decision to implement speed governors from June 1 and its proposal to hike life-time tax to around 3 – 4 times of the tax levied in other states.

G. R. Shanmugappa, president of the Federation of Lorry Owners’ Association, said that speed governors are not available for Euro IV vehicles, making it impossible for vehicle owners and drivers to follow the state government’s order of September 17, 2011, which makes it compulsory for commercial vehicles to install speed governors in their vehicles.

Stating that vehicle manufacturers do not give any guarantee for speed governors installed in vehicles, he said that speed governors may damage the engine before the warranty expires.

Stating that the Karnataka State Highway rules limit speed to 80kmph in cities and 100kmps on highways, he said that restricting commercial vehicles to speed limits is not fair when Volvo buses are allowed to ply at a minimum speed of 100kmph. He also pointed out that limiting speed of commercial vehicles will have an adverse effect on their operations.

Speaking about life time tax issues, he said that six states charge life time tax ranging from 3 – 6 percent of the total cost of the vehicle, but the state government has imposed life time tax of 15 percent. He demanded that vehicles must be exempted from paying the new life time tax and the rate should be brought down to 5 – 6 percent.