Truck Strike

Truckers in Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday to protest against the e-challan system and press for other long-pending demands, disrupting goods transport services across the state, transporters' representative said. The transporters have complained the recovery process by authorities has become aggressive and is disrupting business operations, besides mounting fines of e-challans. The Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Sanghatana, an action committee of transporters' associations, gave the strike call. While the truckers began the strike from midnight, bus operators have deferred their participation for the next few days. "The strike has received a mixed response as it is the first day, but the situation will be different post-afternoon," claimed Uday Barge, convener of the action committee. He said 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh trucks and other goods-carrying vehicles in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra would go off roads due to the strike. Barge claimed all trucks were off

Over the past decade, diesel prices in Karnataka have seen several fluctuations driven by both central and state government policies

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New hit-and-run law demands better policing

Truck driver strike: The home ministry met with the stakeholders on Tuesday evening and assured them that changes to the hit-and-run law would only be made after due consultations

An agitation by truck drivers against the new law on hit-and-run cases turned violent in Gujarat's Surat city on Tuesday with the protesters attacking a police constable, following which 23 persons were arrested, an official said on Tuesday. The incident took place near Magdalla Port on Dumas road when a large number of truck drivers blocked the road demanding withdrawal of the new law on hit-and-run cases, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-6) Rajesh Parmar said. The new law, which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, provides for a jail of up to 10 years and/or a fine of Rs 7 lakh for serious road accidents due to negligent driving and where drivers run away without informing the police. "Truck drivers blocked the road as part of their protest and also stopped a bus passing from that route. To control the situation and clear the road, a PCR van of Surat police rushed to the spot. As soon as that vehicle reached the spot, the protestors attacked our constable and thrashed

Mayank Shah, category head, Parle Products, one of the largest biscuit makers in India, said dispatches from its factories to depots and warehouses were down 50-60 per cent

Truckers key demands include reduction in Central and state taxes by getting diesel under the GST