The A.P. Lorry Owners’ Association has urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to raise the issue of counter-signature permits for goods transport vehicles with his Telangana counterpart, A. Revanth Reddy, during their scheduled meeting on July 6th.
The leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners’ Association have urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the issuance of counter-signature permits for goods transport vehicles in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during his upcoming meeting with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on July 6.
Counter-signature permits for goods carrier vehicles involve the initial issuance by one state and subsequent endorsement by another or the Regional Transport Authority, as per Section 88 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. This issue is crucial for streamlining inter-state transportation and ensuring regulatory compliance across both states.
In a statement, Y.V. Eswara Rao, the general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners’ Association, highlighted the longstanding practice of issuing counter-signature permits for transport vehicles to bordering states at the national level. He noted that despite the separation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, these permits have not been issued between the two states, causing financial hardship for lorry owners.
Mr. Eswara Rao emphasized that before bifurcation, businesses in undivided Andhra Pradesh operated seamlessly across regions. However, efforts to implement counter-signature permits post-bifurcation have been insufficient, leading to ongoing challenges for transport companies and lorry owners.
Regarding the financial implications, he explained that a national permit for a lorry costs ₹18,000 annually, with a significant portion going to the Central government. He suggested that issuing counter-signature permits could increase state revenues, with lorry owners directly contributing ₹25,000 annually to each state if permits were issued. This would alleviate financial burdens on lorry owners while boosting state revenue.
Mr. Eswara Rao appealed to Chief Ministers of both Telugu-speaking states, urging them to prioritize and resolve this issue promptly to facilitate smoother interstate transportation and economic operations.