The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Many trucks remain off roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Many trucks remain off roads

Special Correspondent

40,000 truckers respond to All-India Motor Transport Congress' strike call

FUTURE COURSE: With several trucks staying off the roads on Tuesday protesting the increase in the fuel price, a lorry crew member in Chennai turns to a palmist for a peep into the future. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: : A majority of trucks remained off the roads in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday protesting against the hike in diesel price and collection of toll on major national highways.

About 40,000 truck operators joined the one-day strike call given by the All-India Motor Transport Congress. In Chennai and Tiruvallur districts, over 9,000 lorries were off the roads. However, the movement of essential commodities was not affected as the organisers exempted lorries carrying milk and ration articles from the stir. Call taxies, mini vans and autos also participated in the strike, according to the Chennai Goods Transport Association president, Rajander Singh.

Truck operators were not in a position to pass on the increase to customers, as there was stiff competition from rail. If they did not raise freight rates, they would have to incur heavy losses. If they hiked freight rates there would be diversion of traffic to rail. The collection of toll on most national highways cut their profit margin.

He urged the Government to roll back the price hike and withdraw the toll.

Rollback demanded

The Tamil Nadu Van Owners Association demanded an immediate rollback in the hike of prices of petrol and diesel.

The general body of the Association, which met here on Wednesday, said that the hike affected all sections of society. The van owners had also been adversely hit and persons involved in the trade were on the verge of becoming bankrupt.

The Association said that many roads, now being converted into toll roads, existed even before Independence. As these roads were only improved, it questioned the rationale behind the exercise. If toll charge was the instrument for financing the roads, they why was a separate road tax levied on automobiles, it asked.

Members from across the State, who took part in the meet, said that they faced multiple problems from the law-enforcing agencies and Transport Department. The Association alleged that the highway patrol were harassing van drivers and extorting money. The Association requested that the rules of taxation of maxi-cabs be re-framed.

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