Government increases maximum load capacity for trucks
New Delhi, July 17: The government has decided to increase the maximum load carrying capacity of all new heavy vehicles by 20-25 per cent, Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.
He said this would bring down the logistic cost in the country by 2 per cent and will help in increasing the "ease of doing business".
"Logistic cost in India is 16 to 18 per cent of the GDP whereas it is 8 to 10 per cent in developed countries. This decision will reduce transport cost by 2 per cent and will revolutionise the transport sector," Gadkari told reporters here.
He added that norms for axle load were last notified in 1983 and there has been no change over the last 35 years despite vast improvements in technology.
"Also, there was need to harmonize axle load with international standards. And we have taken this decision in line with international standards and best global practices," Gadkari said.
"The decision will increase capacity of transport vehicles by 20 to 25 per cent and will result in saving time and fuel cost," he said.
The Minister added the decision will also go a long way in checking over-loading of vehicles.
"After this, we will focus on strong enforcement to check over-loading. We are also sending circulars to state governments to enforce this," he added.
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Waqf Bill: Oppn members meet LS Speaker to protest par panel chairman's 'unilateral' decisions
New Delhi, Nov 5: Opposition members in the parliamentary committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday to register their protest against alleged "unilateral" decisions being taken by panel chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.
They said the Speaker heard them patiently and assured them of a decision at the earliest.
"It was a very nice discussion. He was very kind to us. The Speaker has very patiently heard us and said he will look into the matter," TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and DMK MP A Raja spoke on similar lines.
"It was a fruitful meeting, the Speaker assured us of looking into our grievances," he said.
The MPs also submitted a memorandum to the Speaker detailing their concerns.
According to sources, the MPs submitted a letter to the Speaker, signed by Opposition MPs including Congress's Mohammad Jawed and Imran Masood, DMK's Raja, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AAP's Sanjay Singh and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee.
Opposition MPs have accused Pal, the chairperson of the committee scrutinising the Bill, of taking "unilateral decisions" on fixing the dates of sittings -- which were at times for three consecutive days -- and whom to call as witnesses.
The MPs, in the memorandum, urged the Speaker to direct the Chairman of the JPC to have a formal consultation with members of the Committee before taking decisions on such issues, according to sources
They had also said they may be forced to "disassociate with JPC once for all as we have been stonewalled".
To a query on the issue on Tuesday, the MPs refused to divulge details. "We cannot reveal the details of the conversation," Singh said.
On whether they will continue to attend the meetings of the joint committee of the two Houses, Banerjee said, "Yes we will attend because the Speaker is looking into the matter".
The committee's proceedings have been stormy amid frequent protests from opposition members over a host of issues, while the BJP members have accused them of deliberately trying to scuttle its work.
