AMN /
Nationwide strike by Transporters’ entered fifth day today amid a continued deadlock between the agitating apex truckers body AIMTC and the government, affecting movement of goods in various parts of the country.
Representatives of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), who are demanding scrapping of the present toll system, are to meet Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari later in the evening today to find a solution. AIMTC President Bhim Wadhwa told PTI that they are hopeful of some positive solution.
As previous consultations with the government have failed to resolve the deadlock, AIMTC has also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the matter. The government has proposed electronic-toll collection system in the entire country by December, but the transporters claim this was not a practical solution as a pilot project in this regard was not successful.
Apart from demanding scrapping of the present toll collection system, which AIMTC says is a tool of harassment for truckers, it is also seeking a one-time payment of taxes and simplification of the TDS procedure. According to reports from states, movement of goods has been impacted in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, among other places.
Truckers’ stir continues to hit business and industrial houses in Punjab as it has entered the fifth day today. Out of 1.25 lakh trucks in this agriculture-based state, about a lakh are off the road following a call by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) which is demanding scrapping of the present toll system on the highways.
Although the supply of essential goods such as vegetables, milk and medicines has been kept out of the purview of this indefinite strike, still the prices of perishable commodities are increasing. Business activities have also been affected casuing losses to traders and industrialists.
President of Tamilnadu Lorry Owners’ Association, K.Nallathampi has expressed confidence that today’s talks with the Centre over truckers strike would help to arrive at a solution. He said essential commodities are continued to be given exemption from the strike. He claimed that the participation in the strike is voluntary and that barring 10 percent of the over 6.9 lakh lorries and small trucks in the state, others are off the road.