Mangalore: Lorries, maxicabs, taxis stay off the road

The Hindu

MANGALORE, Feb 24: The lorries, taxis and maxicabs in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts stayed off the road on Saturday in protest against the High Court order making it compulsory for transport vehicles to fix speed governors.

A large number of lorries were seen parked on the premises of Agriculture Produce Marketing Yard at Baikampady and at Bunder area.

President of Mangalore Goods Transport Association S. Manohar Narvekar told The Hindu that lorries that arrived with goods were allowed to unload. The lorry drivers voluntarily halted their vehicles after unloading, he said.

The stir might continue till the new rule is withdrawn, he said. The stir call was given by the Bangalore-based Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners and Agents Associations.

Tourists, schoolchildren and their parents were put hardship owing to the withdrawal of maxicabs and taxis from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Narvekar said that the vehicles had voluntarily stayed off the road and that this was not a strike. The association has maintained that the vehicles remained off the road since plying without speed governors would amount to violation of High Court order after February 22.