CHENNAI: The striking truck operators have threatened to intensify the stir by blocking roads as the Centre does not seem to initiate steps to address their issues.
The indefinite strike, ‘Chakka jam’, called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) entered the sixth day on Wednesday incurring a cumulative business loss of `24,000 crore to the goods carrier operators.
Since the Central government is not taking steps to hold talks with the protesting operators to find an amicable solution, they have decided to intensify the stir by blocking highways.“The Union government is not showing any sign of holding talks to find a solution to our problems. So, we are going to intensify the stir. We will block the toll plazas by parking trucks and paralyse movement of vehicles,” G Shanmugappa, general secretary, South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA), told Express on Wednesday.
G Shanmugappa noted that the truckers had resolved to carry forward the strike until their legitimate demands were met and there was no backtracking.
Meanwhile, huge quantities of goods have piled up across Tamil Nadu. Sources said a wide range of commodities, including salt, matches, crackers and edibles, have been stacked in godowns as the trucks stayed off the roads.As vegetables and other perishable goods cannot be moved to major markets in the State, the prices have begun to soar, sources said.
Rs 24,000 crore
cumulative business loss was incurred by the goods carrier operators as the indefinite strike, ‘Chakka jam’, called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) entered the sixth day on Wednesday. Meanwhile, huge quantities of goods have piled up across Tamil Nadu.