Truckers announcement after meeting union road ministry brings relief to traders and consumers across the state
Putting an end to the six day ordeal in the commercial goods transport sector, the truck owners in South India have called off their strike after the union road transport officials agreed to reduce the toll taxes on the national highways across the country.
The truckers announced their decision, which brought respite to traders and consumers, at New Delhi on Tuesday evening, after holding discussions with union road transport ministry officials for two days.
“The officials have agreed to reduce the toll taxes by 50 percent. We have responded by calling off our strike immediately,” Mr G. R. Shanmugappa, president, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTUC), told over phone after emerging from the Delhi meet.
Truck owners across south India, in support of AIMTUC, had joined the strike from August 18 midnight protesting the hike in toll taxes on the national highways, besides demanding reduction of diesel prices and insurance premiums.
The strike by about 25 lakh trucks led to stagnation of goods worth several hundred crores across various commercial centers.
25 August 2011, Chennai Forums