'It is not possible for us to hold talks with the government with conditions attached,' All India Motor Transport Congress secretary general, J M Saksena, said.
The nationwide indefinite strike by truckers demanding stable fuel prices and fewer levies, entered the fourth day on Thursday even as the agitating unions are supposed to meet the road transport minister to resolve the crisis.
Fuel cess, TDS on large cash payouts bid to destroy truckers and get foreign players in, says an industry body.
The AIMTC supports the farmers as 65 per cent of the trucks are engaged in carrying farm produce.
The possibility of harassment by cops and fear of the unknown have forced a large number of truck drivers to abandon vehicles at the transport centres and flee home. Transport of goods remains badly hit as confusion remains among various stakeholders and road transport becomes the victim of disconnect between policy makers and local authorities.
Truckers on Thursday proceeded on a nationwide indefinite strike.
Govt refuses to budge on their demand for scrapping the present toll system
Transporters' nationwide strike entered its fifth day on Monday amid a continued deadlock between the agitating apex truckers body AIMTC and the government, affecting movement of goods in various parts of the country.
However, truckers have spared other vegetables, fruits, fuel and milk from the strike.
Future Group and V-Mart have put in place systems to prevent panic buying at their neighbourhood grocery stores.
The world's biggest lockdown that shut a majority of the factories and businesses, suspended flights, stopped trains and restricted movement of vehicles and people, may have cost the Indian economy Rs 7-8 lakh crore during the 21-day period, analysts and industry bodies said.
Travel time, too, has not fallen much after the abolition of octroi with trucks still queued up at regional transport offices and toll tax plazas.
Farmer leader Darshan Pal accused the Centre of dividing farmer organisations, but it will not happen.
Detailed order, to be passed on Monday, will consider green tribunal's decisions
With fuel being the main input cost for the transport sector, rise in cost of operations is a given. The sector is unsure on the extent of being able to pass this on through rentals or to absorb it with higher volumes.
With almost all opposition parties too backing the 'Bharat bandh' and many announcing parallel protests in support of the farmers, the Centre has issued an advisory directing the states and Union Territories to tighten security and ensure peace is maintained.
While okra was being sold for Rs 100-120 a kg and cauliflower for Rs 120-140 a kg in Mumbai and its suburbs, all other vegetable prices have increased by almost 100 per cent since July 20.
Massive crowds thronged liquor stores, more vehicles plied on roads and cab-hailing platforms resumed services as India entered the third phase of the lockdown on Monday with further easing of curbs except in containment zones in the shadow of the highest rate of recovery yet from coronavirus.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari promised pan-India electronic toll system by December to address their concerns but ruled out complete scrapping of the toll system.
From farmers to cement, steel, logistics, transportation and automobiles, the back-end is struggling to get going due to the liquidity crisis.
I-T lens on current account deposits over Rs 12.5 lakh. All the news and more post demonetisation.
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