Buses, taxis, trucks to stay off roads in some states over motor vehicle strike

(Photo: IANS)


Motor vehicles in many states might remain off the roads following a one-day strike called by the All India Motor Transport Organisation on Tuesday, 7 August.

The strike has been called to demand the withdrawal of the proposed Motor Vehicle (MV) Amendment Bill which has been passed by the Lok Sabha but is stalled in the Rajya Sabha.

Buses, including those of private operators, autorickshaws, trucks, taxis and other forms of vehicular public transport may not ply on the roads on Tuesday.

While transport corporations in Karnataka will not be participating in the strike, private taxi operators including Ola and Uber will join.

In Telangana, Auto Drivers Joint Action Committee of the state has decided to support the strike.

Kerala is wholeheartedly supporting the strike call. Buses of both the KSRTC and private operators will stay off the roads in Kerala. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which is in power in Kerala, has extended its support to the strike call.

Besides transport organisations, automobile showrooms, spare parts shops and driving school owners are also participating in the protest because the Bill says that spares of only branded companies can be used and vehicles can be serviced in company service centres only.