On the call of the Transport Federation, a road blockade was held across the Garhwal division today. Unions from Dehradun and the hilly regions also supported the blockade. Transporters halted vehicle operations at various locations in Rishikesh.
Drivers protesting for a two-year tax exemption on commercial vehicles, among other demands, staged the blockade today. All jeeps and taxis have been halted, causing inconvenience to commuters. Madan Mohan Navani, president of the Karnabhoomi Taxi Union, stated that he has left the strike to the drivers. Devendra Singh Kandari, president of the Jai Maa Jilasu Chandika Taxi Union, expressed his full support for the strike.
He urged that the fitness center built at the RTO office in Rishikesh be reopened soon. Drivers have suffered financial losses due to the slow Chardham Yatra. Therefore, a two-year tax exemption on commercial vehicles should be granted and the five percent annual tax increase should be abolished.
Widespread impact of strike in New Tehri
The strike by the Jeep Taxi, Bus, and Truck Unions is having a widespread impact in New Tehri. Jeep, taxi, buses, and trucks have been out of operation since morning. The bus station and Jeep Taxi point are deserted. If any illegal vehicles are operating, they are being stopped by members of the Jeep Taxi Union. Currently, only a small number of people are leaving their homes.
Decision taken at the meeting
Representatives of truck, dumper, Vikram, auto, e-rickshaw, e-auto, and bus unions met at the Tehri Garhwal Motor Owners Union (TGMO) office under the banner of the Transport Federation. TGMO President Jitendra Negi said that at the meeting held in Dehradun on Monday, the Transport Secretary had assured them of meeting their demands.
Transporter Gajendra Negi said that last year, a movement was launched to increase the load capacity of trucks. Transport department officials had promised to resolve the issue within 21 days, but to date, the problem has not been resolved.
Bhupal Singh Negi stated that none of the demands submitted by transporters to the Transport Department were met. Therefore, a one-day strike across the entire Garhwal division is necessary. Garhwal Truck Association President Dinesh Bahuguna and Bijendra Kandhari stated that the state government is ignoring transporters. Following agreement from all unions, convener Sanjay Shastri announced a one-day strike on Wednesday, October 29th. Pyarelal Jugran, Sunil Kumar, Hemant Dang, Krishna Badoni, Kuldeep Bahuguna, Shakti Semwal, Amar Singh, and Pushpendra Rawat were present.
ARTO attended the meeting, but no consensus was reached.
ARTO (Administration) Rawat Singh Kataria and ARTO (Enforcement) Rashmi Pant accompanied their teams to persuade the transporters at the meeting held at the TGMO office. He assured transporters that 80% of their 10-point demands would be resolved at the headquarters level. These demands included sending a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to resume vehicle fitness testing at the ARTO office premises as before, waiving vehicle owners’ taxes for one year, sending a proposal to the government to provide assistance to drivers, increasing the rental fee for vehicles acquired during disasters, increasing the load capacity of trucks, and bringing uniformity to vehicles equipped with national permits
