GUWAHATI, Sept 14 � Demanding a hike in the fare structures of the commercial vehicles of the State in view of the increased fuel prices, the All Assam Motor Transport Association has called a 36-hour chakka bandh from September 21.
All the commercial vehicles, including school buses, throughout the State would go off the roads from 6 am of September 21 to 6 pm of September 22. However, the vehicles engaged in supplying milk and water, electricity services and connected with medical services or carrying patients would be exempted from the purview of this strike.
The secretary general of the association Pradip Das while addressing the media today said that the decision for this step has been taken after the Government turning a deaf ear to all the communications made by the association. �We were not willing to take this decision that would affect the common people, but State Government�s indifferent attitude on the issue has posed a threat to our existence,� he said.
�Not only the fuel, other items like tyre, grease, and spare parts have also become costlier, whereas the fare structures of the commercial vehicles have not been revised since December 21, 2004,� he alleged.
Drawing comparison, the association secretary general said that in January 2004 the prices of per litre of diesel, petrol and lubricant were Rs 21.66, Rs 34.31 and Rs 85 respectively, which has gone up to Rs 38.50, Rs 54.01 and Rs 240 respectively.
According to the association, more than 20 lakh people are directly or indirectly involved with the business of transport, who are getting affected due to the rise in the fuel prices.
