Truckers strike stalls work at Cochin port

Movement of containers at the Cochin port, especially at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal, has come to a standstill for the last three days due to the indefinite strike called by truck owners over parking fee.

The port trust introduced the parking fee system from January 4 in order to avoid traffic congestion and frequent road accidents inside its premises. Truck owners have to pay Rs 10 per hour as parking fee after the first six hours.

Although truck owners are ready for a conciliation talk, port sources said the chairman was unwilling to discuss the issue, adding he was ready to examine the difficulties faced by the lorry owners but would not roll back the decision.

Normally, a truck needs six hours to load or unload the cargo. In some cases, the traffic manager is authorised to exempt the trucks for four more hours, a senior port official told Business Standard.

The port trust had to introduce this system as hundreds of trucks remain parked at its premises for several days along leading to serious traffic congestion inside the port and also caused several accidents.

On the other hand, truck owners point out that more time was being spent on clearing various papers, which is the main reason for long parking inside the port. The port should take action on this front and then start collecting parking fee, they reasoned.

The Cochin port had lost around 25 working days during 2008 due to labour unrest.