Truckers in five southern states and Maharashtra are planning to go on indefinite strike from August 8.The strike has been called in protest against the recent hike in diesel prices, and demanding implementation of a toll concession agreed in 2010. The proposed strike is expected to cause a loss of Rs. 2,500 crore (Rs. 25 billion) a day to the government and Rs. 5,000 crore (Rs. 50 billion) for the four southern states.
V Chennakesavan, district president and state treasure, Lorry Owners' Association, told Business Standard that around 2.2 million trucks will be off the road from the mid-night of August 8.
Around 1.6 million trucks from the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka, Kerala and Puducherry and 600,000 vehicles from Maharashtra will be off the roads.
The government had agreed to reduce the toll charges by 50
per cent, if the truck operates within the district.
"They are also charging toll for six ways, while the road is only four ways, in some parts of Tamil Nadu, Chennakesavan said.
The truck owners are also against the hike in third-party insurance which rose by 69 per cent. Earlier, truck owners were paying Rs. 6,400 which was now increased to Rs. 11,800, said Chennakesavan.
On the diesel price, he said: "We have been asking the government to reduce the price for long time, but still they haven't heard."
Earlier, All-India Motor Transport Congress president GR Shanmugappa said the hike in diesel prices was unwarranted for the time being.
The government had increased diesel prices by Rs. 2 a litre on June 25 and announced that diesel prices would also be market-determined in due course, as in the case of petrol now.
