Transport strike in Delhi after cab aggregators, auto unions and truckers unite in protest against the amended the Motor Vehicles Act. The strike has been called by the United Front of Transport Associations.
New Delhi: Cab aggregators, auto unions, truckers, and buses are on a day long protest against the New Motor Vehicle Act. The strike has been called by the United Front of Transport Associations (UFTA), comprising around 41 transport associations.
The strike will remain in force from 6 am to 10 pm, disrupting the public transport network through the day, UFTA convenor Rajender Kapoor said.
With cabs, autos and buses staying off roads, the Delhi Metro and buses run by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), a fleet of which is down to around 3,796, is likely to struggle to absorb the extra rush. However, not all cluster buses, numbering 1,679 at the moment, will go off the roads.
“We had marathon meetings at the offices of both Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. The CM himself was not present in the meeting for more than five minutes, but we were made to hold parleys with their legal team. But the deadlock could not be resolved,” Kapoor said.
Kapoor asked why the Delhi government could not bring down the rates of compoundable offences under the amended Act like some states have done. “We know the law was enacted by the Centre, but why is Delhi not doing what is very much under its domain?” he said.
Section 200 of the amended MV Act empowers states to issue a gazette notification for compounding certain offences, while also specifying the ranks of officers empowered to challan various types of violations.
Apart from protesting against the steep hike in penalties under the Act, transporters have been demanding “implementation of social security schemes for drivers of commercial vehicles and their families, along with insurance cover.”
Schools and colleges have been shut and will be open on Saturday.
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