Lorry stir called off as Centre accepts demands

BANGALORE:  The week-long lorry strike was called off on Tuesday evening after the Centre accepted some of the demands put forth by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and The South Zone Transporters’ Welfare Association (SIMTA) at a meeting in Delhi.Lorry owners from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Maharashtra have been on strike since August 18. “We have called off the strike after the meeting and are happy with the response from the Ministry,” said G R Shanmugappa, general secretary South zone Transporters’ Welfare Association.In a press release by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Centre listed the issues that were discussed and the demands that were accepted. The Centre also appealed to SIMTA to call off the strike in the national interest.Promising to consider toll related issues proposed by the AIMTC and SIMTA, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has agreed in principle to the demand to issue notifications regarding toll rates to 94 public funded projects. These notifications, according to the ministry, will be sent immediately. Additionally, the Centre has also constituted a committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and National Highways Authority of India to hold monthly discussions with AIMTC.Regarding the demand to reduce the hike in the premium for third party insurance, the ministry said the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has not yet agreed to do so. However, it has decided to send AIMTC’s proposal to IRDA.