27 April 2018
Mr Colin Macdonald
Managing Director
Renault Nissan India P Ltd
Tamilnadu
Sub: Utilization of barred 22 metre car carriers in India –
Violation of CMVR norms
Dear Mr Macdoland,
Greetings. Am Ramesh Kumar, a
supply chain & logistics focused journalist and also the Editor of DRIVERS
DUNIYA, India’s FIRST and ONLY English quarterly magazine focused on long haul
truck drivers in India since 2015.
I closely follow Indian transport industry developments – from policy
watch to grassroot developments at highways, dhabas, factory gates etc. That’s how I came to know of the alleged
violation of CMVR norms by your company.
As you are fully aware, Government of India two years ago amended the
CMVR norms to regularize vehicle dimensions particularly in the car carriers
segment. For ages, fleet owners in this segment were using 22 metre tractor
trailers and penalized heavily by various state governments. Ultimately,
following a thorough study instituted by the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways of Govt of India, the relevant sections in the CMVR norms were amended
making 18.75 metre as legal.
As of today, all fleet owners in car carrier segment are using only
18.75 metre without any exception. Hence it came as a surprise to know that
Renault Nissan India Private Limited is still using 22 metre multiaxle car
carriers to move its export cargo from its Chennai plant to Ennore Ro-Ro
port. It is learnt that this illegal dimensioned vehicles, owned and or hired
by MOL on your behalf moves stealthily at night to evade detection. When caught
by transport officials, illegal gratification is resorted to, to complete the
task, it is alleged.
Attaching one of the 22 metre trucks utilized by Renault Nissan
India found in your Chennai premises recently waiting for load.
Mr Macdonald, it is crystal clear that the usage of 22 metre car
carriers is illegal. Hence request you to intervene and stop this illegal
practice.
Perhaps you are aware the government was compelled to change the
dimension from the road safety perspective.
As a responsible corporate citizen of India, DRIVERS DUNIYA hopes you
will intervene to do the needful.
A copy of this mail is addressed to the Home Secretary &
Transport Commissioner in Tamil Nadu for necessary action to investigate
this allegations and initiate suitable action, if found guilty.
Similarly a copy is being sent to Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister for
Road Transport & Highways, Government of India to keep him abreast of
the developments in his chosen arena.
A copy is being sent to the embassies of France and Japan to
keep them equally aware of such practices by companies originating from their respective homeland and doing business in India.
Warm regards,
Ramesh Kumar
Copy to:
Dr Niranjan Mardi IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt of Tamilnadu
Mr Samayamoorthy IAS, Transport Commissioner, Govt of Tamilnadu
Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Govt of
India
The Ambassador, Embassy of France, New Delhi
The Ambassador, Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
