CHENNAI: The truck operators’ nation-wide indefinite strike, pressing for a charter of demands including slashing of fuel costs, is set to begin on Friday as the talks between the representatives of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the Centre held on Thursday ended in failure. “We will go on with the indefinite strike as scheduled from Friday,” Bal Malkit Singh, chairman core committee, AIMTC, told Express on Thursday.
As many as 93 lakh trucks and other goods vehicles are expected to stay off the roads across the country as part of the stir. Essential services have been exempted from the stir. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari led the government side while Gultaran Singh Atwal, chairman, SK Mittal, president and Bal Malkit Singh represented the AIMTC at the talks. Although sharing the sentiments of the truckers, Gadkari sought time to look into the issue and wanted the strike postponed, the truckers did not budge. According to Bal Malkit Singh, “The minister said he is concerned about our problems but wanted more time. We reminded him of ample time we have already given.”
The negotiations were held at the Transport Bhavan in Delhi. The major demands of the truckers are slashing the fuel costs and changing the daily revision mechanism, rationalising road toll plazas by announcing one-time toll collection in a uniform manner across the country and cutting down the third party insurance premium.
Since the leaders of AIMTC, with the help of regional, district and taluk associations, has already taken elaborate preparatory measures, the strike is expected to make a huge impact on transportation of goods. They claimed that 3,300 associations affiliated to the AIMTC are fully involved in the stir. Meanwhile, scoffing at rumours doing the rounds in social media, Mittal clarified that there was no question of going back on the decision to launch the strike.
In Tamil Nadu, leaders of truckers’ association claimed that 4.50 lakh lorries would keep off the roads. Though the supply of edibles, construction materials and heavy metals would be affected by the strike, essential services have been given exemption.
“Essential services like water, milk and medicine, have been exempted from the strike,” said MR Kumarasamy, president of the State Federation of Lorry Owners Associations - Tamil Nadu.