West Bengal: Indefinite truck strike commences, commodity prices likely to go up

Demanding decrease in price of diesel, truck association owners have gone on an indefinite strike from Monday across West Bengal. According to West Bengal Truck Association, almost 3.71 lakh trucks are currently off road, reports Zee 24 Ghanta. There is no time limit for the strike and owners are determined to continue it till the time the government blinks and give in to their demands. 

As a result, there is an apprehension that prices in the market would soon be shooting up owing to insufficient supply. In one of Asia's biggest wholesale market in Burrabazar in Kolkata, loading activity in trucks has been completely stopped. Rows of trucks are just standing in a line, which is soon likely to put enormous pressure on the supply chain of raw materials across the state. 

According to truck owners, increasing price of fuel has completely eaten into their profits and they are forced to go for a strike, for the sake of their business. On Monday morning, truckers started protesting on 34 National Highway leading to massive traffic congestion in places like Shantipur, Ranaghat, Habibpur etc. Later police came, intervened and brought the situation under control.