Transports' strike on schedule; AITWA, AIMTC not to join

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) The All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA), a prominent body of transporters, today said it would not participate in the proposed indefinite strike of transporters from January 25 against ''the ad hoc arbitrary increase'' in premium rate for Third Party insurance, saying going on strike was not the solution to any problem.

''The AITWA feels that the proposed hike of 70 per cent is still too high to be absorbed by the hard-pressed road transport industry.

The hike will adversely affect the industry, particularly small truck owners,'' AITWA Working President Roshan Lal Gorakhpuria said in a statement here.

The AITWA, he said, would appeal to the government to constitute a high-power committee to go into the issues of reforms in motor vehicle insurance policy.

''Meanwhile, we morally support the protests of the road transport sector in the matter of proposed insurance premium hike,'' he added.

The strike has been called by All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners' Associations (ACOGOA) in protest against ''the arbitrary, ad hoc increase of over 150 per cent in rates of premium for Third Party motor insurance.'' The decision to go on strike was taken after a series of meetings with officials of the ministries of road transport and Finance failed to break the stalemate, ACOGOA President B Channa Reddy said yesterday.

However, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), another representative body of transporters, said it had called off its proposed strike on the issue, which was to begin from today, on the assurance of the government to reduce the hike in premium of Third party insurance cover.

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