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The strike call, given by 4,000 associations affiliated to the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), commenced from Monday midnight following which prices of essential commodities may shoot up if it continues for the next four to five days, AIMTC spokesperson N L Gupta said in Mumbai.
Transporters have demanded that the government introduce a bailout package for the sector to address issues such as high price of diesel, tyres, and permits, besides other demands.
They have demanded reduction of diesel price by Rs 10 per litre since crude oil prices in the international market have declined drastically.
The list also includes levying uniform four percentage point VAT on diesel, scrapping registration and return filing requirements in the new Carriers Act, reducing tyre prices by 30-35 per cent and rolling back national permit fees from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1,500.
"There are no serious efforts from the government on resolving the transporters issues. We had meetings with the Surface Transport Ministry on Saturday and Sunday without any progress," Gupta said.
The strike will affect the supply of daily goods and estimates are that there could be a revenue loss of above Rs 50,000 crore, a trader Pravin Chedda said in Mumbai.
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These chaps are playing with common man and government. They are trying to pose as mafia gangs controlling the economy. They are reluctant to revise the increased rates as the price of diesel has decreased. So to put up some non issues as a way to skip price decrease these chaps are playing with us. Governemnt should ban this attitude of every person calling shots. May be we are democracy but that should not mean that any body can go on strike. The essential services should not be allowed to be disrupted. If need be these provocative leaders must be restricted from meeting the press and specially Electronic media. Strict penalities must be imposed on these elements.
ACCEPT THE MOST CONDITION AND THE STRIKE BEFORE IT CASUSES MORE DAMAGE. IT IS JUST NOT WORTH TO EXPERIMENT. ------RAJESH DHARIA