Dehradun: Yashpal Arya, Leader of Opposition said that heavy recovery is being done at the private fitness centers of the Transport Department in Uttarakhand. Here people are being charged up to three times the prescribed fee, not only this, this work has been handed over to a private company, which is charging fees arbitrarily. Drivers say that there is no set standard or procedure and there is lack of transparency in the entire process and small drivers are being harassed mentally and financially.
Arya said that the sudden and excessive increase has caused widespread concern and anger among commercial and private vehicle owners. Vehicle owners want the fitness process to be under the government again and their local facility should be restored.
He said that in many places earlier the fitness process was done easily in the local RTO office itself, but now with this work going into private hands, vehicle owners have to go to other cities. Going to another city for fitness means extra cost of diesel-petrol and wastage of a whole day’s time.
Arya said that due to serious financial burden on commercial transport owners and private vehicle owners, transport will become more expensive for the common man and this will promote corruption. Already the trade has become unstable due to increased operating costs due to rising prices of toll, tyres, fuel etc.
The Leader of Opposition said that the government should reconsider the proposed decision and withdraw it, otherwise the situation may go out of control, which may have a deep impact on the economy and supply chain.
