Goods transporters threaten strike

Goods transporters from the state have threatened to go on strike if the state government fails to implement the central government’s decision to give 50% concession in toll for transport vehicles plying on national highways within the district in which these vehicles are registered.

Baba Shinde, president of Maharashtra State Goods Transport Association, said, “We are demanding concession in the toll and for our demands, we had gone on strike in 2010. After which, the central government issued a notification in January 2011 in which it stated that the transport vehicles should get 50% concession in toll within a district in which they are registered. i.e. transport vehicles registered in Pune district should get concession at the toll posts erected on the national highways which fall under Pune district.’’

Shinde added, “We have been requesting the authorities to implement the central government’s decision for last six months. Recently, authorities in Thane district have started implementing the decision for their district and we want it to be implemented it in the entire state. If the government fails to implement the decision in a fortnight, then, the goods transporters in the state will go on a token strike. If the government does not implement the decision even after the token strike, we will hold protests in various districts in western Maharashtra.’’