Mumbai: Unions to intensify transport strike

The first day of the strike of trucks, tempos and buses had little direct effect on the common public. Those affected were mainly people travelling out of the city, ones taking an office bus to work, and several schools that had contractual buses partaking in the strike.

However, things are going to be bleak as unions are hinting that vehicles ferrying essential commodities are likely to join the stir.

There are close to 8,000 trucks and tempos which carry milk, vegetables, fruits, bread, water and other essential commodities every day of the total 60,000 trucks and tempos in city. As of now, these trucks, tempos, trailers are out of the indefinite strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) in which nationwide 93 lakh owners and truckers have participated. Transport owners staged a protest in Navi Mumbai while a large number of trucks were stuck at the Vashi APMC Truck terminal in Navi Mumbai.

“Technically the trucks carrying essential commodities are out of this strike. However, they too suffer like how we do and so there are chances that these trucks and tempos would join the stir if our demands aren’t met. Our talks with senior leaders did not yield results,” said Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman-Core Committee, AIMTC.

If this happens then there would be severe problems for people as prices of vegetables, fruits, milk and other essential commodities could increase. By the end of July 20, the delivery of essential commodities at APMC market was as per schedule.