IMPHAL, January 12: All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers’ Union (AMPTDU) has sought the State government to declare the Drivers’ Day which falls on January 14 as general holiday.
The Drivers’ Day has been observed in remembrance of those deceased drivers who sacrificed much for ensuring daily needs of the public against all odds.
Addressing a press meet at its office located at Sangakpham here today, president of AMPTDU Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh said that the union will be observing the 27th Drivers’ Day at Maipakpi Community Hall, Chingmeirong Mamang on January 14.
He further said that 66 deceased drivers of the union, five handymen, 11 retired drivers and seven veteran drivers will be honoured and presented with simple gifts during the observation function.
Floral tributes will be offered to the portraits of the deceased drivers and handymen wherein their family members will take part, he maintained.
The union president urged the government to conduct Road Opening Party (ROP) by State forces, para-military force and army along Imphal-Jiribam (NH-37) and Imphal-Dimapur (NH-2) for ensuring safety of drivers and handymen.
He also appealed to the government to provide a recovery van and ambulance for security-escorted vehicles plying along the two highways so as to solve myriad of problems faced by drivers and handymen mainly health and mechanical problem during their journey.