No Chakka Bundh in Barak Valley; "Vehicles will ply normally," associations; support only in principle

All Assam Motor Transport Association has called for an indefinite ‘Chakka Bundh’ in the entire state from October 5. They have a set of demands which they feel the state government is ignoring, and that is why they have decided to call for a strike of public road transport in the State.

However, in Barak Valley the strike won’t be followed. The local associations met yesterday and decided to support the ‘Chakka Bandh’ only in principle for the time being. On behalf of the associations, Kishore Kumar Bhattacharjee informed that they are supporting the All Assam Motor Transport Association’s initiative but won’t stop vehicles from plying on the road.

“Barak Valley is a Bengali dominated area and Durga Puja is Bengali’s biggest festival, that is why we have decided that we will continue with public service. In the future, if the demands are not fulfilled, we will consider a strike,” informed Bhattacharjee.

The spokesperson of the City and Mini Bus Owners’ Association said, “Many owners have sold their vehicles to junk dealers on weight as they were in financial crisis. If we keep vehicles at the garage and follow the Chakka Bundh, more owners will sell their vehicles. This is why we have decided that trips will continue.”

Among many issues highlighted by the All Assam Motor Association, relaxation of taxes is critical for the owners in Barak Valley too, said the associations. “The owners are not able to generate enough revenue to pay the necessary road tax. It is our demand to the State Government, they must relax our road tax till March 31, 2021,” said the spokesperson of City and Mini Bus Owners’ Association.

Bhattacharjee added, “If it is mandatory for us to only fill 50 per cent of the seats then we must be allowed to charge 100% more as the tax we pay is on the number of seats we have and not the number of occupied seats. We need to recover the cost or else how will we survive?”

They have also demanded their dues to be cleared by the district administration and the Police department. Apart from that, they have urged the government to increase the validity-tenure for all their documents till March 31, 2021.

The associations have made it clear that while the vehicles will ply as usual now if the demands are not met then Barak Valley will also join the Chakka Bundh.