M’lore: Trucks, cabs to go off road indefinitely from June 1

TNN

Mangalore, 24 May 2012: Commercial vehicle in Dakshina Kannada District will also join the indefinite strike called by the motor unions from the midnight of May 31, in protest against the State Governments decision to implement speed governors from June 1. The unions have also opposed the state’s budgetary proposal of life time tax, which is almost three to five times more than what is currently being levied by other states.

 

G R Shanmugappa, President of the Federation of Lorry Owners’ Association, claimed speed governor devices were not available in the market for Euro-IV vehicles. The September 17, 2011 order of the Karnataka Government makes it mandatory for all commercial vehicles to implement speed governors in their vehicles.

 

Shanmugappa claimed that manufacturers of vehicles do not give warranty if speed governors were installed in the vehicles. Moreover, he expressed fear that governors, which limit the speed of the vehicle may damage the engine before expiration of warranty.

 

Pointing out at the Karnataka State Highway rules, which limits speed to 80 kmph in city and 100 kmph on highways, he said restriction of speed limit to commercial vehicles was not fair alleging that Volvo buses ply at a minimum of 100 kmph. He also said that limiting speed of commercial vehicles which are run for commercial purposes to 65 kmph will adversely affect the operations.

 

Regarding the life time tax (LTT) proposal in the 2012-13 state budget, Shanmugappa said as many as six states charge LTT ranging from three to six per cent on the cost of the vehicle, but the state had imposed 15% on the cost of the vehicle exceeding Rs 10 lakh. Even if the proposal cannot be rolled back, existing vehicles need to be exempted from new LTT and the LTT on new vehicles should be five to six per cent as in other states,’’ he said.