15 lakh trucks to go off road today

VIJAYAWADA: The Union government has reneged on its promises of providing 50 per cent concession on the tollgate fee to the local trucks, said Potluri Ragvendra Rao, president of Krishna District Lorry Owners Association. Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Rao said that the Union surface ministry had failed in keeping its promises of granting 50 per cent discount on the tollgate fee for the local vehicles, made at the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on December 6, 2009. Rao said the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA) will observe a bandh from midnight of August 18 demanding reduction of ceiling on sales tax on diesel apart from the uniform and justifiable tollgate fee.With the strike, about 15 lakh trucks from the South Indian states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry and another 5 lakh trucks from Maharashtra would be disturbed. It may be noted that there are 4.75 lakh trucks plying in Andhra Pradesh alone.Rao also demanded the Union decrease the customs duty on tyres as the price of tyres has been increased to Rs 35,000 from Rs 22,000 within a year and half. General secretary of the association, Nagumothu Raja, said the Centre should decrease the premium of third party insurance which has been inflated from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 within a short period. However, Rao said the Union government invited them for talks but the AIMTC and SIMTA are yet to decide whether to attend the talks.