Former CM assures protesters that demand for extending commercial vehicle permit period will be raised with Centre
Shimla, August 28: A protest by taxi operators demanding an extension in the permit period of commercial vehicles ended on Friday after former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur intervened and assured them that their demands would be strongly taken up with the state and central governments.
The protest had been underway for several days at Chaura Maidan in Shimla, where some taxi operators were on an indefinite hunger strike. Jai Ram Thakur visited the protest site, held discussions with the operators and listened to their concerns before offering juice to those on hunger strike, following which the agitation was called off.
Thakur assured the protesters that the issue would be raised strongly before Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. He said he had also spoken to Gadkari over the telephone on Thursday regarding the matter.
According to Jai Ram Thakur, Gadkari assured him that any proposal or file received from Himachal Pradesh regarding the issue would be considered promptly.
After the discussions, the taxi operators agreed to end their protest.
The protesters have been demanding that the operational permit period for commercial vehicles be extended from 12 years to 15 years.
Taxi-Maxi Operators Association Manali president Abhi Thakur said most vehicles operating in the mountainous regions remain fully fit even after completing 12 years, as they often cover comparatively fewer kilometres than vehicles in the plains.
However, under the existing rules, such vehicles cannot continue operations after the prescribed period, creating financial difficulties for owners who have invested large sums of money and depend on the vehicles for their livelihood.
The operators have demanded that the fitness of a vehicle, rather than its age alone, should be the primary basis for allowing commercial operations.
Jai Ram Thakur said he had raised the issue during the monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. He said the matter was not merely related to the business interests of taxi operators but also affected the livelihoods of thousands of families.
“The government should understand the practical difficulties faced by operators and take a positive decision in the matter,” he said, adding that the demand for relief in rules related to permit duration and commercial vehicles would also be raised before the Centre.
The taxi operators also demanded changes in the existing rules governing permits for buses, trucks, autorickshaws, goods carriers and other commercial vehicles in Himachal Pradesh.
They said several other states allow commercial vehicles to continue operations beyond the prescribed period based on their fitness standards and roadworthiness. A similar system, they said, should be adopted in Himachal Pradesh.
The operators said purchasing a new vehicle was not easy for owners in a hill state, particularly when an existing vehicle remained mechanically fit and met all safety requirements. They argued that removing a vehicle from the road solely because it had completed the prescribed permit period was not practical.
Following detailed discussions and assurances from Jai Ram Thakur that the matter would be pursued with the state and central governments, the operators announced the end of their agitation.
