The Motor Workers Protection Committee will observe a day-long motor vehicle strike on June 18 to protest against plans to introduce mandatory GPS tracking facility in all vehicles.

As per the new regulations, GPS tracking is mandatory in all public vehicles including private buses and school buses. The sole exception is for autorickshaws. The order for mandatory installation of GPS has been in effect since June 1.

Operators of lorry, taxi, used car dealers, private buses and school buses will take part in the strike to draw the attention of the officials. The Motor Workers Protection Committee announced the strike against the mandatory introduction of GPS tracking in a meeting held in Thrissur on Wednesday.

The Kerala government had made it mandatory for school buses to have GPS last year, setting a deadline of October 1 that year. The aim to introduce GPS was to curb rash driving and ensure safety of children on board by allowing tracking, the government said. The deadline was extended more than once, but several schools are reportedly struggling to comply, given the time need to install the GPS device.

The strike organisers claim only Kerala has introduced a mandatory GPS tracker policy without any assistance to road users. They also claim GPS trackers are not available to meet the demand.

(With inputs from onmanorama)