Truck operators, who are on an indefinite strike protesting high toll rates, are upset over the move to increase these by more than 10 per cent from September 1 this year at all 31 private toll plazas across the State, covering nearly 4,550 km of highways, and have threatened to turn the ongoing southern region strike into nationwide stir.
The strike announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and State Federation of Lorry Owners Associations – Tamil Nadu (SFLOATN) against the toll rates and diesel price rise began on the midnight of Thursday.
SFLOATN president K. Nallathambi told The Hindu on Saturday that more than 90 per cent of the trucks were off the road. It was put at 85 per cent on day one.
“This announcement (on further increase of toll rates) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the private toll collectors, even as a strike is on to seek reduction of the existing toll, is not a positive sign and we expect more trucks to stay away from the road from Sunday.”
According to him, trucks in Tamil Nadu were the worst hit by the toll increase as the State had the highest number of toll plazas in the country.
The plan for nationwide strike would be discussed at the AIMTC's managing committee meeting in New Delhi in a day or two.
NAMAKKAL,August 21, 2011 : The Hindu