Talks on highway toll fail

BANGALORE: The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) which held discussions with the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry on Thursday failed to reach on a consensus over the hike in toll.The AIMTC, along with the Lorry Owners’ Association, had earlier announced that the associations would go on an indefinite strike on Chennai-Bangalore National Highway from June 15 to protest against the decision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to increase the user fee in seven user fee plazas on highway.The association, however, then had agreed to enter into a dialogue with the Union government to resolve the issue. The members, who met the officials of the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry on Thursday were unable to reach an agreement.“The talks have failed and we have convened an emergency meeting with all the association members on Friday.On Friday, we will be announcing our next step,” AIMTC President G R Shanmugappa said.AIMTC is objecting to the toll hike as NHAI is yet to finish work on the Bangalore- Chennai Highway. “The NHAI has not even completed the work on the six lanes and they have decided to collected such high toll.But before increasing the toll on the stretch, they should complete the work first,” Shanmugappa added.The truckers’ associations are also protesting against the increase in motor vehicle insurance premium,besides demanding the abolition of sales tax.As per another AIMTC member, due to the increase toll, the truckers have to cough up around Rs 3,200 on the Bangalore-Chennai stretch,while earlier they were paying around Rs 1,500.