All India Motor Transport Congress firm on strike from October 1

All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Friday said the body is firm about going on an indefinite strike from October 1 over the existing toll collection system, despite Centre's appeal to it to desist from agitation.

"Unless the government takes solid steps to fulfill our various demands about the existing toll collection system, we will not budge from our stand of going on an indefinite strike from October 1," AIMTC National President Amritlal Mittal told reporters here after chairing a meeting of truck owners.

He said that AIMTC had proposed to the government to collect advance toll from truck owners and stop collecting toll at various points so that trucks don't have to halt at a number of places to pay toll, but the government has not taken any solid step so far.

"Therefore, we are firm about going on strike from October 1," he said, adding it would adversely impact business and lead to a loss of crores of rupees.

AIMTC claims to represent 93 lakh truck operators and nearly 50 lakh bus owners as well as tour operators.

On Thursday, Union Road Transport and Highways Secretary Vijay Chhibber had appealed truck owners to desist from their proposed strike from October 1 onwards.