Public transporters give strike call
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2013:
All Manipur Bus Owners' Federation has declared that passenger carriers will cease service from July 15 onward till the Director (Transport) is replaced and a viable transport policy put in place.
Speaking to mediapersons at its Keishampat office today, Federation secretary Arambam Priyokumar Singh affirmed that public transporters have been compelled to go for complete cessation of service as repeated appraisals to authorities concerned and resorting to transport strikes had failed to evoke positive response.
While the genuine demand for framing a transport policy continues to be elusive the transport department seems to be more interested in randomly issuing license, expressed the secretary while opining that the Transport Director's inimical attitude towards the public service providers is complicating the situation.
Stating that a Transport Director who continues to undermine public transporters do not deserve to be entrusted with such an important task, he affirmed that till the Director is transferred/replaced and transport policy put in place the service suspension agitation will be strictly enforced.
maintaining that the transport service strike call will cover all commercial passenger carriers, Priyokumar cautioned that anybody defying the agitation will have to bear the consequences.
Lamenting that repeated intimations to the Transport Minister and Transport Director to resolve existing conflicts amongst public transporters remain un-addressed, he also accused the latter of deliberately avoiding a formal meeting with the bus service providers.
Claiming that a number of vehicles are plying on different routes without valid permit thereby leading to conflict situation between the permit holders and permit-less commercial vehicles, the secretary also contended that many light motor vehicles possessing 'contract carriage permit' are plying beyond their defined routes thereby creating tension amongst the transport operators.
Inspite of some transport operators killed some times back in possible act of arson triggered by tension between rival transporters the Transport Department had been remaining indifferent to the situation, Priyokumar said and held the Transport Director responsible for the casualties.
Citing permit-less vehicles (Tata Wingers) indulging in passenger transportation along the Indo-Burma-Sugnu road as a glaring example of the Transport Department's inability to streamline the public transport system, he further claimed that an agreement reached between the Transport Minister and Federation representative that no more permits would be issued till the Transport Policy comes into effect has also failed to materialise.
Contrary to Tata Magic operators supposed to operate upto Sekmai town the same public transporters were found to be operating till Leikhanpokpi village Tribal University complex as their service route has been extended by greasing palms of greedy Transport Department officials, alleged the secretary who also said that such incongruous permit issuance system is creating tension in northern transport.
Amid confusion between bus service providers and Winger public transporters on the Imphal-Churachandpur route a police personnel found operating/driving one of the Tata Wingers only testify that transport service system has been reduced to a farce, he said.