Agartala, April 30 (TIWN): Normal life is affected in Tripura on Thursday due to 24 hrs transport strike called by three workers unions against proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014.

Left backed CITU, Congress backed INTUC and Bharatiya Mazdur Sangha jointly convened the strike demanding amendment of the proposed bill, which they termed as anti-motor workers.

All motorized transports including school buses are stayed off the road in the state. As a result, schools, colleges and university have also remained closed. However, there is no untoward incident reported from any parts of the state yet.

The strike has affected the election process of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) scheduled on May 3 next. Also has affected the functioning of the state administration. All the government offices are witnessed thin attendance.

Both Tripura Road Transport Corporation and Urban Transport Corporation did not operate any bus in the state. Besides, Auto rickshaws and private vehicles were also stayed off the roads that made the life paralyzed.

The CITU leader Tapas Datta alleged that proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014 envisions providing a framework for safer, faster, cost-effective and inclusive movement of passengers and freight in India thus enabling the mission of Make in India but did not consider its impact on the motor workers.

The bill proposes to set up the Motor Vehicle Regulation & Road Safety Authority of India, an independent agency for vehicle regulation and road safety which would be legally empowered and accountable to Parliament.

It has slice down the power of the state government in regulating the transport sector. The left front government in the state have sent it’s view to Ministry of Roadways and Transport apprehending that the proposed bill will encroach upon their financial, legislative and administrative powers. 

The bill has also envisaged bringing new technologies including cleaner fuels in vehicle manufacturing and operations as well as stringent action in case of any accident, which is now very nominal. 

“As regards interstate contract carriage permits, these are envisaged to be issued by the National Transport Authority and the revenues due to each state will be transferred to such state, on the analogy of national permit system for goods carriers," the bill proposed.