Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Lorries to keep off roads from Saturday

CHENNAI: Lorry owners in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram have decided to launch an indefinite strike from Saturday, demanding repair of the damaged arterial roads in north Chennai, particularly the Ponneri High Road and Manali High Road.

The lorry owners in the three districts would not ply the vehicles if action was not taken to repair the rain-battered roads in north Chennai, R.Sugumar, president, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur Lorry, Tanker, Tipper, Trailer, Van Owners Associations Welfare Committee told presspersons here on Monday.

The association members would join hands with the residents to take up the repair work on the Ponneri High Road near the stretch of Andalkuppam on Saturday, he added.

Besides compounding the traffic congestion, the damaged roads led to wastage of around 2.5 lakh litres of diesel by the estimated 10,000 heavy vehicles that ply on north Chennai roads daily, he said.

Citing that 117 fatal accidents had been reported on Ponneri High Road since January this year, Mr.Sugumar said that the bad condition of the road was one of reasons for the accidents. About 35,000 lorries in the three districts would keep off roads from Saturday.

On the nationwide strike call of the All India Motor Transport Congress, Mr. Sugumar said the agitation is for a cut in diesel price by Rs.10 a litre and against arbitrary insurance premium hike. The transporters also want the toll charges to reduced and the price of the tyres brought down by 35 per cent, he added. Members of the association said that about 4.5 lakh heavy vehicles in the State were expected to participate in the strike.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Botanical garden preliminary work
Crisis will increase demand for Civil Services: Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary
Sponsorships are not on high note, yet no negative impact
World AIDS Day rally
Science exhibition held
Sabhas and security matters
Court directive to Legal Studies Director
BSNL pensioners’ plea to Centre
Life convicts to appear for exams
Pension adalat held
Ganguly lauded for landmark judgments
‘Sangeetha Kalasarathy’ for Santhanagopalan
Japanese government hands over grants for three NGOs in South India
None can turn a blind eye to this Health & Lifestyle
Joining hands to conserve energy
Honoured with Guru Surajananda award
SBI adopts four girls
Lorries to keep off roads from Saturday
Civic body chiefs apologise to court
New MTC services
Ambulance goes up in flames
Railway employee convicted
Light rain likely today
Plazas take their toll on rush-hour traffic
AIDS awareness programme for doctors
Power shutdown tomorrow
Research should be part of academic programme: Sripathi
JSS work reviewed
Child run over
Aavin seeks government aid
Tiruvottiyur residents take out rally for Metro Rail connectivity
“Revive BSRB”
In Chennai Today
The wheeling-dealing gang picks up speed Law and Order

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu