Transport strike on August 7 against Amendment Bill

K Arumuga Nainar, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Transport Employees Federation, said that the Amendment Bill was previously introduced in Lok Sabha and the central government is trying to introduce it in the Rajya Sabha. If the Bill introduced, the entire motor industry would be affected as the Bill aims at complete privatisation of the industry, he said.

“Since 2014, the Centre is trying to corporatise all the services in India and now it is aiming at the motor industry. If the Bill is passed, corporates like Ola and Uber will take control of the industry and smaller operators will have to surrender before them,” said Nainar. 

He further added that even bike and car owners would be affected if the Bill is passed. “A clause of the Bill states that the fitness certificates (FC) for bikes and cars had to be obtained every year from the showrooms they are bought from. The clause intends to wipe away all the Regional Transport Offices,” he said. 

He further said that another clause states that driving schools will need 2 acre of land to function. In Chennai, there are over 200 driving schools and it will cost them Rs 600 to 700 crore to buy that amount of land. How will such schools operate if the Bill is passed, asked Nainar.

An all-India strike has been announced against the Bill on August 7 and all major transport unions have decided to participate in it. People too must not use their private vehicles to support the strike as it is inclusive of all sections of the society, he said.