Private bus, lorry strike from midnight

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29 (UNI) Heavy vehicles in Kerala, including private buses and lorries, will go off the road from midnight to protest the government order making the use of speed governors compulsory in heavy vehicles from today.

State Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas said though the government had made all efforts to avert the strike, it did not succeed.

''Use of speed governors has been made mandatory as per the directions of the Supreme Court. The apex Court has even initiated contempt proceedings against officials in Transport Department for not complying with its order'', he told UNI.

However, the lorry and bus owners association allege that the government has not taken any legal steps to bypass the apex Court order even though they had given strike notice a month ago.

Regarding the possible shortage of food items, the Minister said the government had taken all precautionary measures to tackle the situation.

A review meeting tomorrow with Food and Civil Supplies Minister would discuss the alternative steps to transport food items from other states, in case the strike continued.

Mr Thomas said some bus owners had called on him and informed their willingness to operate buses, if provided protection. ''the government will give them full protection,'' he added.

Since people in Malabar region depend on private buses, the government would introduce more Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses in these areas, if needed, he added.

The Bus-lorry Owners Association leaders said they would not back off from the proposed strike until the Transport Commissioner withdrew his order stating that fitness certificates would be not issued to vehicles not fitted with speed governors.

Around 20,000 private buses, contract carriages, tanker and LPG lorries would keep off the road as part of the strike.

Kerala registered vehicles not fitted with the speed governor would not be allowed to ply in other states while the vice versa is allowed.

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