The nationwide lorry strike partially affected the movement of goods in the State on Thursday. Most of those lorries that had already been loaded were plying on Thursday.
However, no new trips began on Thursday, and this is threatening to cripple the movement of goods to a larger extent if the strike continues.
G.R. Shanmugappa, president, toll committee, All-India Motor Transport Congress, said the strike would continue until the Union government heeded to their demands and shut down all the 373 toll plazas on national highways.
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Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president of the Bangalore Wholesale Grains and Pulses Merchants Association, said the APMC markets had lorries unloading on Thursday.
“These are mostly those which were on the road when the strike was called. But lorries were not loaded on Thursday. This will cripple the movement of commodities severely from Friday,” he said.
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While, transportation of construction materials have been severely affected, that of vegetables and other food commodities are likely to be affected in a day.
Mr. Shanmugappa said Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was a stumbling block to implementing toll-free national highways. “From the 373 tolls, the government has earned Rs. 14,504 crore this year. A two per cent cess on diesel used by lorries will provide them the money upfront. Toll plazas lead to delay in commute and cause additional losses to business. For instance, there are 23 toll plazas between Mumbai and Bengaluru and it will add an additional 7 hours and 23 minutes to the commute. We are not asking for a free travel, we will pay the tolls upfront annually. Why can’t the government agree,” he sought to know.
He said talks in New Delhi had broken down and office-bearers returned to Bengaluru on Thursday. “We will not resume services till our demands are met,” he threatened.
The strike will continue until all the 373 toll plazas are closed, says
G.R. Shanmugappa, president, toll committee, All-India Motor Transport Congress