Bengaluru: The South India Motor Transporters Association (SIMTA) has warned of a flash strike across southern states if the Centre and state govts fail to address its demands by July 20.The demands include withdrawal of the mandatory Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) requirement and panic buttons for goods vehicles, abolition of border checkposts, rollback of toll fee hikes, and an end to what the association calls arbitrary issuance of e-challans by enforcement authorities.SIMTA alleged that mandatory installation of AIS-140 compliant tracking devices has burdened truck operators financially without delivering measurable safety benefits. The association said the devices cost Rs 14,000-15,000 per vehicle, with annual renewal charges of Rs 8,000-10,000, while arguing that goods vehicles are already monitored through FASTag and GPS-based fleet management systems.The association has urged the Centre to direct the NIC to remove VLTD-based restrictions on the VAHAN portal and restore services such as national permit renewals and fitness certificates without making VLTD compliance mandatory for goods vehicles.GR Shanmugappa, general secretary of the association, alleged that enforcement authorities are misusing the e-challan mechanism by issuing multiple challans for a single violation, with no grievance redressal system in place, resulting in indiscriminate penalisation.SIMTA also demanded rollback of the toll fee hike imposed by the Nandi Economic Corridor Enterprises Limited (NICE) for using the NICE Road.“The recent 10 to 15 per cent toll fee hike for using the NICE Road has caused an additional burden for truck owners at a time when fuel and other costs are increasing. The concessionaire has recovered the original investment cost, yet it continues to increase toll rates without providing basic amenities and parking facilities for truck drivers,” SIMTA stated.
