Vehicle rent not yet paid!

Mangaluru: Two months have passed since the Lok Sabha election culminated and yet, most of the vehicles that were hired for the movement of officials on election duty and on the day of election have not yet been paid their dues. Presently, vehicle drivers and owners have made an appeal to the Deputy Commissioner.

On the occasion of the election, vehicles were required for the movement of staffs belonging to the police, security teams and revenue department throughout the district. In such a situation, the city RTO is supposed to provide the vehicles. Hence they arrange the vehicles by contacting the department vehicle drivers, owners association or Taxi Mens Maxi Cab Association, drivers and owners of private tourist taxi vehicle. This time, around 360 vehicles were procured for the purpose from throughout the district. Only 25% of the hired vehicles have received their payment.

This time, during the election on April 18^th, necessary vehicle were procured slightly earlier to the date. But, 2 months have passed and yet most of the vehicles have not yet received their dues.

They rejected to provide their vehicles!

RTO/police have the opportunity to make use of taxi/maxi cabs for various reasons including for the security of the arriving guests, election, pulse polio drive and other emergency occasions. The fare is based as a day’s fare and RTO/police procure the vehicle along with its driver. Once the work is completed, the dues are paid and the vehicle is released. But since a few years, the government has repeatedly failed to make timely payments for the vehicles procured during elections and arrival of VIP’s and hence, due to this reason, the drivers and owners refused to provide their tourist car, jeep and vans.

Legislative Assembly election dues paid!

A few taxis that were during the celebration of Tippu Jayanthi on Nov 8 2016, had to wait for some months get their dues paid. The police department, who had used vehicles during the visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress National President Rahul Gandhi took several months to pay their dues. But, the vehicles used during the Legislative Assembly elections last year received their dues properly, albeit with some delay.

Payments to be done by respective departments

“The Deputy Commissioner informs us to provide vehicles for election or any other government work. Accordingly we arrange the vehicles. Later, the payments are made by the respective departments. We have no connection in this regard,” explains Chandra Uppara, RTO, Mangaluru

Payment within 15 days was assured

“They procured our vehicles in April 12^th for election. After April 18, they assured that they would clear the dues with 15 days. But two months have passed and the dues are still pending. Money has been provided to some vehicles but not properly. We have spoken with the district in-charge minister also in this regard,” informs Dinesh Kumpala, President, DK Taxi Mens Maxi Cab Association