The strike is aimed at holding the government to ransom over toll charges and rise in prices of diesel and tyres.
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) - a body of truck operators — has called a nationwide indefinite strike beginning midnight of August 5. Around 62 lakh truck operators are members of AIMTC.
The strike is aimed at holding the government to ransom over toll charges and rise in prices of diesel and tyres. The transport body plans to begin the strike from south India on midnight of August 1 and scale it up by August 5, if their problems are not solved.
GM Shanmugappa, president, AIMTC, said, “Toll rates are too high. The approximate toll paid per month per truck is nearly equivalent to the monthly installment on the vehicle. We want the government to reinstate the toll policy followed in 1997, which had just four categories of vehicles. The toll policy of 2008 increased catogorisation and enhanced charges.” The government also needs to find out that various contractors charge toll at their own discretion, he said.
Reacting to the truckers’ threat, SK Dash, joint secretary, transport ministry, said, “We met their representatives in the morning. The issue [toll] is being looked at by the empowered group of ministers [EgoM], which is not in favour of further changes. On disparities in toll collection, we have asked them to send their findings to the government.”
The transport body has also raised concerns about rising input costs as well. “Anti-dumping duty on tyres has made tyre manufacturers increase prices. Hike in diesel prices is also a dampener,” Shanmugappa said. On the tyre issue, Dash said transport minister Kamal Nath may write to commerce minister
Anand Sharma on this.
The strike, if it happens, will increase inflation. At least 62 lakh truck operators are members of AIMTC and if the strike happens, the earnings of 10 crore people will be hit. With trucks stalling, the daily loss to the government could be pegged anywhere between Rs4,500 crore and Rs5,000 crore.
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