Ludhiana, though, witnessed a mixed response with the lighter vehicles like TATA 304 and others plying.
The day saw hectic lobbying all around the city with truckers busy in closed-door meetings to chalk out further plan of actions. The situation, however, remained peaceful over all. Local transporters, led by Ludhiana Goods Transport Association, held a meeting at Transport Nagar.
Addressing the meeting, Mahinder Singh, association president, said they would not allow any transporter to carry on work as others observed the strike nationwide. He urged all transporters to join hands to lodge a protest against the irrelevant decision of the Central Government.
Sarabjeet Singh, General Secretary, Punjab State Goods Transport Association, said if the Centre failed to meet their demands, the law and order situation across the country would deteriorate. The strike would push inflation by 10-15 per cent and put extra burden on people, he added.
“The wheels of the transporters are the backbone of the economy, if they don’t move, the country will suffer,” asserted Sarabjeet.
Ludhiana Transporters Club president, Darshan Singh, however claimed, the strike was total and truck operators remained off roads all over the city. Besides suspending loading, unloading work, truck operators didn’t even take fresh orders.
Though the transporters suffered losses, the government will lose about a crore daily due to the strike, he added.