• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , Oct. 27

Private buses, lorries, tankers and containers in the State will go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of October 29 over the contentious issue of retrofitting `speed governors'.

This became clear after talks between the Transport Minister, Mr Mathew T. Thomas, and fleet operators failed to reach an amicable settlement here on Friday evening.

Briefing newspersons, Mr Thomas said that the Supreme Court had directed the State Government to ensure that speed governors were installed and compliance affidavit filed before November 20.

The Government had in turn directed the Motor Vehicles Department to issue fitness certificates to new vehicles only after confirming that the speed governor was in place.

CONSTRAINTS GALORE

The Minister echoed the Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan's mention about bringing forth a related legislation, but there were constraints. Framing the operative clause of the legislation was not easy.

The motor vehicle rules would have to be amended. Certain amendments had been suggested too. The issue has been taken up with the Union Minister for Surface Transport, Mr T. R. Baalu, and he has agreed to consider it favourably.

The Government was of the view that retrofitting speed governors was impractical, but any delay would invite contempt of court proceedings. The issue has been pending for the last six years.

The Minister urged fleet operators to reconsider their decision given the adverse impact it will bring to bear on the public, especially students. But representatives of the operators said that the Government had dragged its feet during the past one month.

In the meantime, the Motor Vehicles Department has proceeded to make fitness certificate mandatory for new vehicles.

More Stories on : Trade & Labour Unions | Roadways | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Dredger collision: Kochi port to seek damages

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line