Punjab truckers to go on indefinite strike from July 20

Private players running toll plazas have officials in their side, and are looting truckers by taking advantage of the Supreme Court orders. AMARJIT SINGH AMRI, chairman, Majha Transport Cell Punjab

JALANDHAR: The Punjab truck operators and transporters will go on an indefinite strike from July 20.

The decision was taken at the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) Doaba zone’s conference on Wednesday, following the call made by the AIMTC for a nationwide strike against the transport policies of government.

All Punjab Truck Union president Happy Sandhu said that he supports the strike call of the AIMTC. He said that the toll plaza policy of the central government is against the truck owners. “We have been demanding transparency in toll policy but to no avail. Toll collection is not ending, instead it is frequently increasing. We cannot run business like this,” he said. “Our operations are not viable anymore due to the daily increase in diesel prices. And we are unable to pass on the extra burden to clients as the contracts are signed well in advance,” he added.

“The private players running toll plazas have the officials in their side, and are looting the truckers by taking advantage of the Supreme Court orders,” said Majha Transport Cell Punjab chairman Amarjit Singh Amri.

“All insurance companies are destroying the transport business. Government should reconsider its policy and give some relief to the transporters,” said former AIMTC national chairman Charan Singh Lohra.