Parliament passes bill to regulate goods carriers

Parliament today passed a key bill to regulate and fix the liability of goods carriers by road, including agents and courier agencies.

Lok Sabha passed the Carriage by Road Bill, 2005, piloted by Shipping and Transport Minister T R Baalu, without discussion amidst din over the nuclear issue.

The bill had already been passed by Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to repeal the original Act of 1865.

The proposed law will make it mandatory for the "common carriers" to register themselves with state transport authority or the regional transport authority. Failing to do so will attract penal action. Carriage of hazardous and dangerous goods will also be regulated.

The legislation will cover the entire chain of intermediaries engaged in the transport of goods by road. The liability of the common carriers for loss or damage to any consignment will be limited to Rs 10,000.