Transporters continue strike; goods supply disrupted in some areas

Impact seen in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

Demanding scrapping of the present toll system, apex transporters body AIMTC continued its nationwide strike for the second consecutive day today, disrupting supply of goods to various parts of the country.

While supply of essential commodities like milk, vegetables and medicines have been kept out of the purview of the strike, its impact was seen in various parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, among other places.

"We will continue our strike till the government comes out with some practical solution to our problem. We are not against paying toll but we are demanding it in an annualised form.

"The electronic-toll collection system as promised by the government is not practical," All India Motor Transport Congress President Bhim Wadhwa told PTI.

Wadhwa said the cumulative loss to truckers on account of the strike, which began yesterday at 6 am, will be about Rs 3,000 crore, while to the government it would be over Rs 20,000 crore in two days.

However, the government has refused to budge from its stance and said it cannot scrap the toll collection system.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said yesterday, "It is up to them to continue their strike. Government cannot scrap toll. We have already assured to implement electronic tolling system pan-India by December. I appeal them to call off the strike."