Truckers have withdrawn strike call: Kamal Nath

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has withdrawn the nationwide strike call given by them from Sunday, said Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Kamal Nath on Saturday.

The AIMTC, one of the largest associations of truck operators in the country, declared an indefinite nationwide truckers’ strike from Dec 5 to protest toll tax collection irregularities and escalating costs of toll tax.

Kamal Nath said the strike was withdrawn after an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and AIMTC here.

Informing the press about the agreement reached between the government and the truckers representatives, Nath said that a separate category namely 3-axle commercial vehicles will be incorporated in National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

It was agreed that the present base rate of user fee for this category of vehicles will be @ Rs.2.40 per km as against the present user fee base rate of Rs.2.20 per km for bus/truck category.

It was further agreed that the difference between the user fee rates for 2-axle bus/truck category and three-axle commercial vehicle
category would generally not be more than 10%.

The Minister said after the concession period is over user fee will be charged by the Government for maintenance and development at a lesser rate i.e at 40% of the rates applicable at the time of completion of concession period.

The normal provisions of annual increase due to inflation indexing as per Rules would be applicable. However, it was noted that in case of further development of the National Highway stretch full user fee will be collected as per Rules.

Nath said a separate class under concession category will be created in the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 to provide 50% concession on user fee chargeable at toll booths located in the district, for local commercial vehicles registered within the District (excluding vehicles plying under National Permit).

It was also agreed that all other pending issues of the truckers will be looked into by the Government within a period of 3-4 months. The other issues include provision of service roads, highway facilities etc.

G.R. Shanmugappa, President of All India Motor Transport Congress who signed the agreement on behalf of the truckers, thanked the minister for addressing their long pending issues.