Thandwe transport authorities require tuk-tuks to register with new association

29 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
29 December 2022, Thandwe

A private vehicles supervisory committee in Thandwe Township under the junta-controlled Thandwe District transportation department is collecting a registration fee of K20,000 from tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) drivers to form a tutk-tuk association.

But some tuk-tuk drivers in Thandwe Township have said they will not join the association because the committee has not explained what benefits drivers will gain from joining the association.

“We have no plan to pay the money for now,” said a tuk-tuk driver from Thandwe. “They would not do anything for us. They only told us to give K20,000 and did not say anything about what we will get from joining the association. We operate our privately owned vehicles. They don’t supply us with a tuk-tuk stand.”

The private vehicles supervisory committee in Thandwe Township, with the approval of Thandwe District transportation department, signalled on December 11 that tuk-tuks should be under the supervision of the committee.

The notification asked tuk-tuk drivers to pay K20,000 to the accounts department of the committee by December 31.

The committee failed to consult with tuk-tuk drivers about the formation of the tuk-tuk association, said another tuk-tuk driver.

“We think it is unfair. We have all the licences, including operating licences and municipal licences. No tuk-tuk driver has yet given the money so far,” he said.

The chief of the Thandwe District transportation department, U Aung Zaw Moe, said all motor vehicles must be under the supervision of the committee.

“We have a policy that all the vehicles must be under the supervision of the committee,” he said. “All the bus lines have to register with it. There were no tuk-tuks and three-wheelers in the past. So we are forming an association for them. The committee does not get a budget from the government. It operates with money paid by bus lines. So, tuk-tuk drivers have to give a registration fee to become a member. They don’t have to pay any fees beyond that.”

There are eight bus lines in Thandwe, all of which are registered with the committee, he added. There are more than 350 tuk-tuks in Thandwe.