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20,000 trucks in F’bad go off road

FARIDABAD: More than 20,000 trucks did not ply in the district on Friday as part of the nationwide “chakka jam” (strike) announced by the All-India Motor Transport Congress.

20,000 trucks in F’bad go off road

Members of the transport association protest in Panipat on Friday. Tribune photo



Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 20

More than 20,000 trucks did not ply in the district on Friday as part of the nationwide “chakka jam” (strike) announced by the All-India Motor Transport Congress.

“Bookings worth Rs 10 crores were cancelled on the first day of the strike, as none of the registered transporters accepted the work order,” claimed Subhash Kaushik, president, All-Faridabad Transport Association (AFTA).

He said all 800 members of the association went on strike.

“Requests for lifting the stock (raw materials and finished goods) of several companies were turned down, as transporters believe that an indefinite strike is the only option left in view of Centre’s failure to accept our demands,” Kaushik said.

The transporters are demanding reduction and rationalisation of diesel rates, curb on daily revision of fuel prices, toll-free movement across the nation, GST waiver for the transport sector, simplification of the e-way billing system, withdrawal of the direct port delivery system, and issuance of national permits to buses and tourist vehicles.

“Wrong decisions by the Centre have made the survival of the transport industry difficult. Toll charges, high fuel rates and indiscriminate taxes have made the transport industry a victim of exploitation,” he claimed.

He said the strike would continue till the demands raised by the All-India Motor Transport Congress were met.

Col S Kapoor (retd), Executive Director, Faridabad Industries Association (FIA), said the strike threatened to hit the industry hard. “A single day’s strike will pile up stock for three to four days.”

He said the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) Suppliers for an industry such as Maruti and similar units were mainly hit. “A week-long strike can result in a loss of more than Rs 100 crores. Many units may face closure if the standoff continues,” he added.

Demands 

  • Reduction and rationalisation of diesel rates
  • Curb on daily revision of fuel prices
  • Toll-free movement across the nation
  • GST waiver for the transport sector
  • Simplification of the e-way billing system
  • Issuance of national permits to buses, tourist vehicles

Mixed response in Karnal 

Karnal: The nationwide strike saw a mixed response in the district. About 1,000 trucks were parked in Sector 4 here, said Narinder Singh, president, All-India Motor Transport Congress, Karnal unit. But he admitted some of the transporters plied their vehicles. A truck owner said some vehicles were already engaged on monthly basis so they could not go on strike. Singh said transporters were protesting against non-inclusion of diesel in the GST regime, increase in insurance premium, toll collection policy and national permits for passenger vehicles. TNS

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