CHENNAI: Even as the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) is gearing up for the July 20 nation-wide indefinite strike, the LPG bullet tanker operators in the southern region have extended moral support. Although they are not participating in the stir, operations may be hit if striking truckers force tankers to stay off the roads.
“We have extended our moral support to the July 20 truckers’ strike because the demands they have put forth are very much relevant to the LPG bullet tanker operators,” NR Karthik, secretary, Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners Association, told Express.
Even if the bulk LPG transporters are not participating in the indefinite strike, supported by several organisations including the powerful State Federation of Lorry Owners Associations-Tamil Nadu, ferrying of the liquefied petroleum gas may be hit in case striking truckers force them to suspend operations.
Karthik said, “If they are forcing us to suspend operations on the road, we may have no other options but to stop transporting LPG.”
Around 4,000 LPG bullet tankers are being operated in the southern region ferrying gas from refineries to bottling plants for oil majors- IOCL, BPCL and HPCL- on contact basis.
It may be noted that the AIMTC has called for the indefinite strike from July 20 pressing the demands for changing the daily revision of fuel prices, rationalising the road toll and reducing third party insurance premium.
The national body of truck operators has vowed to make a big impact through the ‘Chakka Jam’ to paralyse movement of goods.