Transporters threaten to go on nation-wide strike from August 6

Transporters across the country will go on an indefinite strike from August 6 to protest against the recent fuel price hike, exorbitant toll rates, corruption by police/RTO, among other issues. The strike in Maharashtra will adversely affect transportation of vegetables and essential commodities. The stir will also cause losses to the tune of crores to several factories, heavy industries and affect import/export.

"We have decided to go for a nationwide `chakka jaam' from the midnight of August 5,'' said G R Shanmugappa, president of All-India Motor Transport Congress. "More than 62 lakh trucks across the country will be off the roads, causing revenue losses to the tune of nearly Rs 5,000 crore,'' he told TOI after concluding a meeting of transport associations in Delhi on Monday.

TOI had first reported about the strike call given by transport unions in southern states-Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu-and that Maharashtra and other states were expected to join the agitation.

"The government has turned a deaf ear to our demands,'' said Bal Malkit Singh, president of the Bombay Goods Transport Association. "The all-India body had given a deadline of three months to the Centre and the latter has ignored all our demands,'' he said.

In Maharashtra, close to 15 lakh trucks will be off the roads.

Raining cheaper vegetables: More on your plate

It is arguably the best piece of news for harried Mumbaikars in quite some time. Costlier piped gas and hikes in auto and taxi fares had sent household budgets, reeling under high food prices, for a toss. Now, after being on an upward spiral for months together, prices of vegetables have finally come down.

Prices of most vegetables have dipped by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg in the past couple of weeks, bringing back smiles on the faces of customers. Many who enquired with local vendors about the sudden dip were informed that "stocks were aplenty" in the wholesale market at Vashi. Since the supply was more, the traders decided to go for a price correction.

Said Ashok Keharwal, a wholesale dealer in potatoes and onions, "Except for potatoes, onions and a few other items, prices of most vegetables have come down since mid-July. As for onions, the price would dip only after the Ganesh festival season, when farmers flood the market with fresh stocks. Potatoes may see a correction next February." Vegetable trader Yudishtir Chaurasia said, "Due to heavy rains, it is not feasible for hoarders to stock vegetables. It is released in the retail market, thereby creating more supply and bringing down prices."

Prices of lady's finger, cauliflower and cabbage were in the range of Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg until the first week of July. It is now available for Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg, depending on the quality of the vegetable. "If you are among the last few customers for the day, you can also bargain for as low as Rs 15 per kg,'' said Sanjit Jaiswal, a hawker. Prices of tomatoes were as high as Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg in June. It can now be bought in the range of Rs 24 to Rs 30 per kg from your roadside vendor.

Said vendor Rajesh Yadav, "In the month of shravan (during the monsoon), several customers go on a month-long fast. They abstain from eating many vegetables and that is another reason why prices dip during this period." Another vendor Ravindra Tiwari, in the business for 34 years, said, "Prices usually go up during summer and were skyrocketing in March, April and May."

Capsicum is cheaper by 25% and yam (suran) by a whopping 50%. The Indian tendli which was available for more than Rs 40 per kg is now as low as Rs 24 per kg. Green chilli sales have picked up after prices dropped by 20%, said Rajendra Prasad Kushwaha, in the chilli trade for three decades.

Most markets are flooded with bottle gourd, whose prices have come down by Rs 5 to Rs 10, said vendor Rampyare Gupta. He added the prices may not remain constant as the markets were unpredictable after August. "The prices could spiral again,'' said Keharwal, adding Mumbaikars should make the best of the present opportunity.

For those who prefer salads, this is the best time to buy cucumber, tomatoes, carrots and beetroots. You can also squeeze some lime on your dishes, which is now 50% cheaper. "We hope for more buyers. Usually, there is a drop in customers during heavy rains,'' Tiwari added.

From today, ask for new auto, taxi tariff charts
Soon, Cabs Will Don New Colour Code

The state is planning to add a new hue to the auto, taxi-revamp plan, literally. State transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has proposed a new colour code for both taxis and autos in Mumbai—blue and yellow or brown and yellow.
At a function held at Police Gymkhana for the launch of a toll-free helpline (1800-22-0110) for auto and taxi passengers on Thursday, the minister directed RTO officials to “immediately’’ release tariff cards of revised fares for both the modes of transport. On Thursday, when the new tariffs were introduced, the regional transport office (RTO), was flooded with calls from citizens who were reportedly fleeced by auto and taxi drivers who did not carry authorised fare charts. In a bid to help residents, RTO officials expedited the process of issuing new tariff cards, which were given out to drivers by late Thursday evening.
Talking about the revamp, Vikhe-Patil said a new colour code for taxis and autos would be presented to the state cabinet within a month. Vikhe-Patil said, “Among the new colours being considered for taxis are a combination of sky blue and yellow, brown stripes on yellow body and a design, which has more shades of yellow and less of black (opposite of the current scheme).’’ He added that auto drivers had also given their consent for a new colour for their vehicles and they also wanted a new uniform.
Installation of GPS and wireless technology in ordinary taxis as well as cool cabs—making it on a par with fleet cabs—and compulsory setting up of high-security registration number plates by car-owners in Mumbai are a few of the other plans.
Vikhe-Patil told TOI that he would make it mandatory for car owners in Mumbai to have high-security registration number plates. Tenders are being floated for securing contracts from companies that can provide the technology. “The number plate will be embedded with a micro-chip, which will store the data of a car, including registration details, chassis number and RTO details. It can be scanned using chip-readers and will help us keep track of vehicles arriving and leaving the city,’’ he said. The technology will not only help track stolen vehicles, but can also be used in near future for automatic toll collections—a system where a car/truck owner’s account gets debited with the toll amount the moment his vehicle passes the checkpost.
Vikhe-Patil said he would invite private operators to adopt 5,000 to 10,000 taxis and set up a control room where people could also book blackand-yellow taxis over phone.

Toll-free Helpline For Commuters

Chief minister Ashok Chavan, who inaugurated the toll-free helpline (1800-22-0110) for commuters, said the response time by RTO officials would be fast. “I want errant drivers to be punished severely,’’ he said. A passenger can lodge complaints of refusal to ply, excess fare, rude behaviour, and any criminal act against auto, taxi and bus drivers on this helpline. Transport minister R Vikhe-Patil said their grievances would be redressed within a maximum two weeks. Chavan said the RTO should make the licence test strict and not issue a licence to anyone if he did not know how to drive. “It will bring down the accident rate,’’ he said. Chavan also launched an e-payment facility at RTO, thanks to which, dealers can now pay motor vehicle tax over the net while registering new cars. Chavan promised to introduce a new cadre of constables in the RTO and get more firearms for the department. TNN