Transporters seeks PM's intervention on toll, other issues

All India Motor Transport Congress has announced indefinite nationwide strike from October 1

Apex transporters body AIMTC has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in addressing issues hurting the sector, mainly toll collection system, which it says has become a tool for corruption and harassment of truckers.

All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) claims to represent 93 lakh truckers and 50 lakh buses and tourist operators across the country and has announced indefinite nationwide strike from October 1.

"The 'Acche Din', 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', 'Make In India' & 'Ease of Doing Business'...Supposed to define the path charted out for well being of people of India remains utopian at least for the road transport sector of India," AIMTC said in a statement.

Despite being the highest taxpayers it is in dire straits and is on the verge of collapse, it said, adding that the condition of the sector has further deteriorated due to plethora of taxes, regressive policies and laws that only strengthened the web of corruption, harassment, and extortion in the country.

"Toll barriers are indeed symbols of colonial and have become dens of harassment and corruption. The Transport fraternity of India cannot sustain operations in light of burgeoning corruption, harassment, and time delays at the Toll Barriers and therefore want that the revenue may be collected as indirect taxation," the statement said.

Urging the Prime Minister to intervene, it said as per National Highway Authority of India there are total 373 toll barriers for toll collection where Rs 1,73,000 crore has been invested, whereas Rs 72,300 crore has been collected till date.

"Especially, At the 63 Out of these 373 toll barriers, Rs 22,636 crore has been collected against the investment of Rs 14,192 crore yet the collection has been going on at the rate of 100 per cent," it said.

It alleged that the toll collection process is not transparent and prone to malpractices besides frequent stoppages made at the toll barriers result into the loss of Rs 87,000 crore on account of loss of man hours and fuel, as per IIM study.

It said CAG too has pointed towards mismanagement of crores of rupees in administrative or financial matters in this area.

"The Transport fraternity has no objection against the toll revenue ... Pushed to wall by the callous and insensitive approach of the Roads Minister, the fraternity pins its hope on you (PM) to provide the transport sector 'Toll Barrier Free India' without any revenue loss, which may be taken through indirect taxation," the AIMTC urged the Prime Minister.

They have caution that in case of a nationwide strike, the country will incur losses to the tune of Rs 1,500-1,700 crore per day on account of total halt of essential supplies and other goods.