AIMTC threatens of strike if issues such as toll not addressed

Truckers' body appeals to the Centre and all state governments to take this sector seriously

Truckers' body AIMTC today threatened to go on an indefinite strike if road sector's issues such as toll were not addressed by the government.

"AIMTC appeals to the Centre and all state governments to take this sector seriously and help resolution of problems, especially toll, otherwise the unabated resentment among the road transport fraternity may boomerang into a pan-India agitation," the transporters' body said in a statement.

"If no positive developments take place soon AIMTC may consider for indefinite nationwide 'Chakkajam'," it said.

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) said that it expected the government to "redo the wrongs done while pushing unjust and non-people friendly toll policy."

AIMTC "will support any party that will help this sector in resolving its contentious issues, it said, adding that some political parties were taking up cudgels against rampant corruption on toll and undue financial burden on the road transport fraternity and the common man.

Stating that AIMTC has been raising the issues of flawed Toll policy, draconian provisions of Carriage by Road Act and ambiguous policy of registration among others but was getting only assurances.

AIMTC President Bal Malkit Singh said the body was supporting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for empathising with transport fraternity's concerns.

There was a token sit down by the road transport fraternity of Maharashtra in support of MNS, he said adding, "The road transport fraternity of Maharashtra has incurred a loss of about Rs 675 crore with 27 lakhs commercial vehicles going off the road today.