The ruling BJP government in the center has increased the fees that needs to be paid by the public at the Regional Transport offices for availing various services.
The fee for renewing the driving license has been increased from Rs.300 to Rs.640. And, the fees for obtaining FC for vehicles has been increased from Rs.2 25 to Rs. 625 and the fine has been increased to Rs.3000 from Rs.100 for up to 60 days.
The updated fees tariffs has been brought into practice in the State of Tamil Nadu at all Regional Transport Offices, while the other states are yet to implement the same. Reacting to this sudden multi-fold increase in fee structure and penalty, today in the city of Coimbatore the auto driver unions held a protest at the south taluk office.
About 150 auto drivers participated in the protests. During the protests, they parked their autos in a long queue in front of the taluk office and raised slogans against the central government for this giant hike in fees and also condemned the state government for implementing the change, while all other states are yet to go for it.
. When speaking to the press coordinator of all auto drivers association and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) President Sukumaran said, “Many of the auto drivers do not own an auto, instead they hire an auto and drive it on a rental basis. Drivers who own an auto have obtained loan from the private organisations and banks to purchase their auto. They are already suffering to pay their loan dues on-time, with this hike in FC fees and penalties, the livelihood of the auto drivers will be adversely affected.
The central government has increased the tariffs in the intent of facilitating corporate players dominate in our sector. A state-wide massive protest will be conducted if the new tariffs are not withdrawn.” he said.
