Truck operators go on indefinite nationwide strike demand reduction in diesel prices

To demand a reduction in diesel prices and toll fees, the All-India Motor Transport Congress core committee announced an indefinite nationwide strike after talks between its representatives and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday night failed to provide a solution.

More than 93 lakh trucks and other goods vehicles will stay away from the road as part of the strike, which was announced on May 17, and the daily loss is estimated to be Rs 4,000 crore.

Public transport service vehicles have been exempted from the strike. Buses and tourist vehicle services, however, will be restricted.

Mumbai: Students face inconvenience as All India Motor Transport Congress has started its protest all over Maharashtra against the constant increase in diesel prices, uncontrollable toll expenses, GST compliance issues, practical problems with e-way bills and some other issues pic.twitter.com/Ex1nqGilVd

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018

“We held a meeting with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari yesterday but that was inconclusive,” Bal Malkit Singh, chairperson of the All-India Motor Transport Congress core committee, told PTI. “We met Finance Minister Piyush Goyal at 9.30 pm last night.”

Also Read: Mumbai: Two-Day-Old Baby suffering due to clinic’s negligence

The All-India Motor Transport Congress is an umbrella organisation of more than 3,500 transport associations, unions and federations across all levels and states.

The truckers accused that the toll fare is only in the favour of the road concessionaires. They have demanded a more transparent system and claimed that the time and fuel loss at toll plazas stands at Rs 1.5 trillion annually. The protesters want national permits for all buses and trucks, an abolition of the direct port delivery tendering system and exemptions indirect taxes.

The truckers also cited challenges in operations after the e-way bill was introduced in April, said a Bloomberg report. “There is variance in policy and ground reality, making operations increasingly cumbersome and financially strained,” said Singh.

Coimbatore: All India Motor Transport Congress has started its nation-wide protest against the constant increase in diesel prices, toll expenses, GST compliance issues, practical problems with e-way bills and some other issues. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/dLj7egVBBl

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018

The organisation has support from members in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha among other states, where transporters are on strike.

However, the state government in Goa has invoked the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988, to deter transporters from striking, reported The Times of India.