Thousands of trucks and long-body trailers, engaged by automobile manufacturers for carrying motor vehicles, went on strike on Tuesday in Haryana opposing introduction of ‘new fitness certificates’ for their vehicles under Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
The transporters are claiming that according to rules of ‘new fitness certificate’ none of their vehicle will get the fitness certificate and they will not be able to do their business. State Transport Commis-sioner Ashok Khemka, had on December 8, 2014 issued a notification, to all secretaries of Regional Transport Authorities, saying all heavy vehicles need to adhere to new criteria on dimensions of these vehicles before they are issued fitness certificates to ply on roads.
In his notification he asked them to withdraw the relaxation for trailers engaged by automobile manufacturers for carrying motor vehicles regarding their overall length given to them through draft notification on June 5, 2010. “The above cited letter was based on four-year-old draft notification dated June 5th, 2010 of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which was never finalised”, says notification.
It further adds, “the same is here by withdrawn and shall not be given effect in to. The provision of Rules 93, 93 A and 93 B of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 shall be complied with strictly”. The transporters said the strike would continue indefinitely till the Haryana government withdrew its notification under which all heavy vehicles require fresh fitness certificates from the transport department.
Ashwini Sharma, president Automobile Carrier Welfare Association said over 90,000 heavy vehicles have been affected by the strike. We will continue the strike indefinitely till the government withdraws the notification. Our vehicles have been issued certificates earlier and have been plying like this for years.
There were nearly 3.5 lakh transport vehicles plying in Haryana and the strike would affect business, added sources. Gurgaon, is a industrial hub of Haryana, alone has over 60,000 heavy vehicles which transport automobiles (cars, two-wheelers and others) from big manufacturers like Maruti-Suzuki, Honda and others.