‘Chakka jam to intensify from Monday’

Mumbai: As the All India Motor Transport Congress’ (AIMTC) indefinite nationwide ‘chakka jam’ over the diesel price hike entered its second day, the AIMTC said that it will intensify its strike from Monday, as 2,500 trucks that supply essential commodities to Mumbai will participate in the agitation for a day. Meanwhile, talks between AIMTC and the union government failed to resolve the issue. The members of the AIMTC also protested at Azad Maidan on Saturday.

Vice-President of Bombay Goods Transport Association, Ashok Rajguru said, “2,500 trucks supplying essential commodities such as milk, vegetables, food grain, fruits and eggs in Mumbai would be joining the agitation on Monday, as the government has turned a deaf ear over our demands.”

Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman, Core Committee of AIMTC said, “Day two consolidated the agitation. There have been very positive reports from across the country and all state, district and taluka level associations and unions and their members’ have extended unstinting support to this movement.”

Mr. Singh claimed that the industry has already started to feel the pinch. ASSOCHAM quoted loss of about `20,000 crore due to the strike and urged the government’s intervention to speedily resolve issues as transporters have been reeling under the impact of demonetisation, rise in input costs along with fuel prices, high cost of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and are facing a host of other challenges.