Booking and delivery services for parcels and goods were called off by the State’s lorry owners, in solidarity with and support to the two-day nationwide strike by the All India Motor Transport Congress starting Monday.
The Telangana State Motor Transport Operators Association too has thrown its weight behind the Congress and announced its support.
The strike is launched mainly demanding inclusion of diesel in the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax.
However, it is more like a pen-down, and not complete withdrawal of services, said Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana Lorry Owners Association, which is affiliated to the Congress. Transport of essential commodities would not be affected, he clarified.
“The taxes imposed on petroleum products are 45 per cent of the cost, whereas the maximum rate for GST is only 28 per cent. Besides, since August, the rates have been revised on a daily basis linked to the international crude oil prices. During the last two months, the diesel price has gone up by ₹ 8, resulting in heavy burden on public,” said Mr.Reddy.
For a trip to Delhi, it takes five days for a truck, and the rate is fixed before the freight begins, which makes it impossible to factor in the daily changes, he said.
The association has also demanded elimination of check-posts by the Telangana government.
