The 36th annual session of the Pondicherry Lorry Owner’s Association (PLOA), sponsored by Tata Motors Ltd., India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, was held on December 17. It was well attended by all those associated with the road transport industry.
In his inaugural address, Mr. V. Narayanasamy, Puducherry Chief Minister, said that, with various tax benefits, Puducherry is the ideal place for investments, including in the automobile sector. The State also has the advantage of maintaining good infrastructural facilities, including the well-known Karaikal Port.
In his presidential address, Mr. A. Kesavan, Hony. President of the Association, highlighted the different issues faced by the lorry owners in the State. As in the case of the Government fixing the fares for auto and bus operators, there should be a workable system to the lorry operators too. He also sought a greater co-operation between the booking agents and the lorry owners for them to work more harmoniously.
Mr. G. Suresh, Area Manager – TN 2, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd., made a detailed presentation on the company’s leadership in commercial vehicles and its successful journey over the last 64 years. In order to provide better driving comfort, Tata Motors has taken a series of initiatives. Also, for the welfare of drivers, the company has set up driver training institutes all over the country.
Mr. N. Subramanian, DGM Marketing, Manatec Electronics Pvt. Ltd., which was the co-sponsor of the session, made an interesting presentation on the company’s various product development activities for truck operators. In order to provide testing facilities for the commercial vehicle operators, the company has also established driving centres popularly known Easy Drive at two locations in Puducherry and also in other parts of the country.
Mr. N. Senthil Kumar, President of the Association, welcomed the august gathering and thanked them for attending the session in large numbers. While thanking the Manatec for extending the sponsorship, he requested the company management for a special testing campaign to be arranged for the benefit of the Association members.
Mr. A. Peer Mohamed, Secretary, Puducherry Transport Federation, outlined the problems facing the trucking community.
Dr. Velmurugan.PS, Fulbright Fellow, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Commerce, Pondicherry University, in his speech, said today the milk, vegetables and other daily necessities are made available to the public only because of the lorry transportation and hence it deserves its due recognition. Also the road transportation industry provides an employment generation of over 20 crore people directly and indirectly, and contributing five per cent to the country’s GDP. Hence road transport has proved the backbone of the Indian economy.
Earlier, Mr. T. Chakkaravarthy, PLOA Secretary, welcomed the gathering.
The dignitaries present on the occasion included Mr. R. Mananathan, Chairman, Manatec Electronics Private Ltd., representatives from vehicle manufacturers and dealers, as well as auto financiers, and committee members from other lorry owners associations from all over Tamil Nadu.