All-India Motor Transport Congress called for an indefinite strike starting on Monday, which is also supported by the city-based Bombay Goods Transport Association. They have demanded reduction in 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 percent and rolling back national permit fees from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1,500. BGTA, an association of agents with around 15,000 trucks, said that its 1,200 transport firms have shut their godowns since Monday.

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.

 According to the Deepak Kapoor, the state transport commissioner, the 22 interstate toll nakas across state borders have seen a decline in the number of trucks coming to the city by 70 percent. The Agriculture Food Produce Market (APMC) on Tuesday registered 570 trucks of vegetables, 313 trucks of fruits and 238 trucks of onion and potatoes.

  “The number of food trucks coming to the city was the same, pre and post strike. The strike would not affect the transportation of emergency items like the food stuffs,” said Kapoor.