Truckers continued their nation-wide strike for the third consecutive day on Saturday affecting supply of goods to various parts of Tamil Nadu and other States.
Movement of lorries, barring those transporting fuel, milk, and other essential commodities, was affected in these districts.
As many as 42 train wagons of cement that arrived from Andhra Pradesh on Saturday and another 42 wagons carrying foodgrains that arrived from Madhya Pradesh were detained at the Market Railway Goods Shed at Shevvapet in Salem city.
The cement and foodgrains could not be unloaded and transported to the respective destinations owing to the ongoing lorry strike. “Usually these goods are transported by hired lorries. As the lorries are on strike, the stock could not be unloaded,” railway sources said.
Similarly, another rake of cement that arrived from Andhra Pradesh is at Namakkal goods shed.
Namakkal district, the hub of lorry activity, has remained calm for the past three days. In the absence of lorry traffic, free movement of other vehicles are seen on Salem - Namakkal - Karur National Highway.
The toll plazas on this road are free from queues of lorries.
The lorries have been parked on the truck bays near the toll plazas and along the NH. The lorry crew have also parked the lorries in the vacant space available in all the petrol bunks on this road.
Even while expressing concern at the stoic silence maintained by the Centre on this vital issue, K. Nallathambi, president of the State Lorry Owners’ Federation - Tamil Nadu, said that the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex transporters body which had given a call for the strike, is firm on continuing the agitation till the just demands are met.
“The AIMTC is not against the toll plazas. The transporters will continue the strike till the government comes out with some solution,” Mr. Nallathambi told The Hindu over phone.
The strike has evoked cent per cent response from the truckers in Salem district, said V. Chennakesavan, president of the Salem District Lorry Owners’ Association. All the lorries and trucks kept off the roads on Saturday too, he said.
Meanwhile, R. Nallathambi, president, Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers Association, said that the regular supply of eggs from Namakkal to the noon meal centres in the State and also to the neighbouring districts of Kerala and Karnataka was done through their own fleet without any hindrance.
