The movement of goods and services has come to a standstill.
As the indefinite strike called by the South Zone Motor Transporters Welfare Association (SZMTWA) entered its third day, vegetable prices in the city saw a steep hike.
With over 26 lakh trucks across the four southern states and Maharashtra remaining off roads, the movement of goods and services has come to a standstill.
Qutub Mirza, a vegetable vendor in Tannery Road Market, said that the prices of vegetables were expected to further increase in the coming days.
“Prices of all vegetables have gone up steadily since the strike started on August 19. If the strike is not called off immediately, it will further increase as the festival season is also on,” he said.
Meanwhile, SZMTWA, which is protesting against the 135 % hike on toll collected on National Highways, 68% hike on third-party insurance, and 30 % hike on tyre prices, besides demanding uniform diesel prices across all states, is in no mood to relent. BV Narayanappa, secretary of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association said that a meeting would be held with the officials of National Highway Authority of India and the ministry of road transport and highway, on Monday.
“Based on the outcome of the meeting, we would take a decision on whether other states will also participate in the ongoing strike,” he said.
The Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association (BTTOA) and the Karnataka Maxi-Cab Association who had said they would be participating in the ongoing strike from August 23 onwards if the government fails to meet the demands of SZMTWA will also be meeting on Monday to take their future course of action.
BTTOA has under its aegis 40,000 and 20,000 luxury and tourist taxis, respectively.
Karnataka Maxi-Cab Association president Ramesh said that though the association completely supported the demand for uniform diesel prices across all states, it will take the decision whether to go on strike on Monday.
“As most of our clients are from the IT, ITeS and corporate sector, we cannot go on strike without intimating them. But if the government does not give in, we have no option,” he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}