Maharashtra truckers threaten strike from June 18; supplies of essentials won’t be hit

Truckers are upset with toll charges, soaring diesel prices and third-party insurance premiums

Miffed with toll charges, soaring diesel prices and third-party insurance premiums, truckers in Maharashtra have threatened an indefinite strike from June 18.

However, the supply of essential commodities such as fuel, milk, fruits, and vegetables will remain unaffected, said All-India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association (ACOGOA), adding that about 27 lakh trucks will remain off the road if the state government does not act on their demands.

“We don’t want to trouble the public but intend to highlight the issues,” said Rajinder Singh, general secretary of ACOGOA. He said the union is forced to take this step as the government has ignored their demands despite repeated representations.

Another transport’s body — All India Motor Transport Congress — has given a nationwide strike call for July 20 over more or less similar demands.

Transporter operators, however, are sceptical that truckers will respond to the ACOGOA’s plea in Mumbai and Maharashtra because a few truckers associations from the state have announced support to the strike. However, ACOGOA has claimed that all truck unions will participate in the strike.

According to ACOGOA, diesel, which contributes to 60% of the operational cost, has witnessed about a 17% increase in the past five months. The prices of freight, however, remained unchanged. “The truck operator’s running cost has gone up by about Rs100 crores a day, because of the diesel price hike between May 14 and May 31,” said Singh. He said excise duty on fuel has been increased by 484.17% since the NDA government came to power in 2014.