Truckers in Maharashtra to go on strike from July 16

The Maharashtra unit of All India Motor Transport Congress today called for indefinite 'Chakka Jam' (strike) from midnight of July 15 against government's failure to abolish escorts fee in the state.
The decision to suspend goods vehicles operations from July 16 was taken by the Escorts Abolition Coordination Committee which comprises all district/ taluka transport member associations of AIMTC in Maharashtra, at a rally here.
However, transportation of essential items has been exempted from the strike, a release said.
The transporters allege that while octroi has been abolished, the escort charges which are levied to escort the truck from one octroi post to another are still being collected from the truckers.

In spite of the decision to abolish escort tax and the instruction given by the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, there was no implementation, the release said.
"Therefore, it was unanimously decided to launch indefinite suspension of work (chakka jam)," the release said.