Organized by the Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation (TNLOF), the event saw the coming together of two major transport associations AIMTC and ACOGOA, marking a new dawn for the sector’s welfare, reports N. Balasubramanian
The Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation (TNLOF) organized a unique United Transport Morcha Meet in Chennai during the last week of March. The highly successful event saw the participation of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of cargo & passenger transporters across the country, and also All India Transport Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Associations (ACOGOA), Bhaichara All India Truck Operator Welfare Association and South Zone Integrated Motor Transport Federation (SIMTF). In addition, the heads and representatives of several other regional transport and lorry owners’ associations from across Tamil Nadu and other south Indian states marked their presence on the occasion.
The biggest announcement of the day was the new partnership between ACOGOA and AIMTC which saw Chenna Reddy, ACOGOA President, chosen as the Advisor of AIMTC. The move is expected to fortify the relations between the two key transport groups immensely.
The star-studded line up of key figures at the event included Kultaran Singh Atwal, AIMTC President, Chenna Reddy, ACOGOA President, Rajinder Singh, ACOGOA Secretary, Gurmeet Singh, North Zone – President, AIMTC, Harish Sabharwal, Chairman – Finance Committee, AIMTC, Vij, Chairman – Law Committee, AIMTC, Chand Basha, President, BCLTAA (Karnataka), Ashok Sharma, Bhaichara, Asaithambi, Ex. South Zone VP, AIMTC, Nallathambi, Chairman – Toll Committee, AIMTC, K. K. Sasidharan, President, CGTA (Chennai). Over 200 members were present on the occasion, all of them with the common aim of sustaining and improving the commercial transport industry.
Welcoming the gathering, Murugan Venkatachalam, TNLOF President and the main man behind the hugely successful event, said, “Today is a historic day for our transport industry. Through this ‘United Transport Morcha Meet’ we are scripting a new history for our sector for which our friends from AIMTC and other associations from different parts of India have come together. We have gathered here to discuss and put forth our requests to AIMTC who are committed towards working for the welfare of our sector.”
A wide range of issues were spoken by a long line up of speakers on the occasion. Some of the critical aspects included challenges for operators to survive in business, commoditisation of freight charges, need for transporters to be united, alarming rise in diesel prices, unabated hike in toll rates, inefficacy of lorry strikes due to lack of clarity and unity, sacrifice and service of truck drivers during COVID pandemic, need to bring diesel under GST, ill effects of overloading and driver safety and welfare.
One of the speakers said emotionally, “Truckers in our country have lost everything owing to what has happened in the last few years; there is nothing left for us to lose. Let us set aside our egos and come together for the common cause.” And come together they did at the United Transport Morcha Meet, a probable beginning of something revolutionary that could change the fortunes of our country’s commercial transport ecosystem, often ironically referred to as the backbone of the economy. The backbone is in pretty bad shape at present and will get weaker unless the government steps in with necessary support.
After listening to all the speakers, Kultaran Singh Atwal addressed the gathering. He assured his fellow transporters, “AIMTC is aware of and is listening to all your problems. We are actively working on resolving them and our members are doing their best towards the same. We assure you that we will come up with solutions by talking to the government and ensure the transport sector gets its due and comes back to a healthy state soon.”
He added, “Transporters are suffering due to diesel price hike, e-way bill, scrappage policy and toll tax. We are losing our business. Over 70% of our operational cost is diesel, so when diesel price increases, it results in heavy losses for us. Also, there are many other taxes which are destroying our sector. We will do whatever it takes to get the government’s attention and ensure our sector gets the support it deserves.”
As a next step, AIMTC is planning to organize an all-India meet wherein transporters from across the country will come together to discuss burning issues that are plaguing the commercial goods & passenger transport business and find a suitable way forward to address the challenges.
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Today is a historic day for our transport industry. Through this ‘United Transport Morcha Meet’ we are scripting a new history for our sector for which our friends from AIMTC and other associations from different parts of India have come together. We have gathered here to discuss and put forth our requests to AIMTC who are committed towards working for the welfare of our sector.
– Murugan Venkatachalam, TNLOF President