Transporters’ strike: Essential goods supply to Mumbai may be hit today
Trucks transporting essential commodities may also go off roads on Monday; a majority of Maharashtra’s 12 lakh goods vehicles are already not plying.
The ongoing nation-wide transporters’ strike might intensify from Monday, said transport organisations. Citizens are likely to be inconvenienced as transport organisations hinted that the protest might hit supply of essential commodities such as vegetables, fruit, milk, and medicine.
Raman Khosla, leader of Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh, said, “We have not stopped the supply of essential commodities but they may go off the roads voluntarily as they are facing the same problems we are, including fuel prices, high toll, and insurance.”
Maharashtra has over 12 lakh good vehicles, a majority of which have gone off roads Friday onwards following the call for by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), one of the apex transporters’ organisations in the country.
Transporters have demanded a reduction in fuel price and the premium of third-party insurance, along with hassle-free alternatives to toll collection, and national permits for buses and tourist taxis. They have also demanded the curbing of harassment and corruption on roads.
“On the third day too, there has been no reconciliatory talks or indication from the government to resolve the issues with immediate tangible results. The movement will get intensified in days to come,” read a statement released by AIMTC. The release highlighted the ₹12,000-crore loss faced by the transport sector over the past three days.
Although supply of essential commodities has been normal until now, the strike has adversely affected goods movement in the state, said leaders of transport bodies. Transporters supplying essential goods might join the strike from Monday, resulting in a hike in prices.
According to AIMTC, transportation services to and from ports, refineries, harbours, and industrial units supplying good such as petrochemicals, white goods, fast-moving consumer goods, steel, coal, cement, and granite have been stopped.
The Maharashtra government has formed control rooms and district-level committees, led by district collectors, in order to monitor the situation across the state. Shekhar Channe, transport commissioner of the state, said, “Several trucks are plying on the roads currently. The supply of essential commodities and milk is unaffected. Trucks carrying fruits and vegetables are operational and are reaching the destination on time.”