Kolkata, July 19 (IANS) At least 17 associations of commercial vehicle operators Sunday called for an indefinite strike from July 24 to protest the state government’s decision to ban all commercial vehicles that are over 15 years old.
“We’ve called this strike as the state government has paid no heed to our interests. They have unilaterally declared their decision to impose a ban on all those commercial vehicles that are more than 15 years old,” said Sarnakamal Saha of Kolkata Metropolitian Bus and Mini Bus Owners Association.

He said: “The indefinite transport strike has been called under the banner of ‘Save Commercial Vehicle Committee (SCVC)’.”

“The transport strike would be observed all across West Bengal July 24 and it will continue in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) for an indefinite period.”

Saha said the transporters would also give a letter to state Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty, informing him about the strike.

The Calcutta High Court in July last year ordered ban on commercial vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1993, from Kolkata and its outskirts. It said the order should be implemented by Dec 31, 2008, in the KMA, which includes parts of north and south 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly district.

Later, the date for imposing the ban was extended till July 31, 2009, following a plea of the state government.

To implement the court order, the state government decided to phase out old vehicles from July 25.

“We’ll ensure that after July 31 no such commercial vehicles that are more than 15 years old, ply in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA),” state Transport Secretary Sumanto Chowdhury earlier said.