Transporter strike: Noida factory owners estimate Rs 100 crore loss

Members of the Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) held a meeting on Monday night to assess the losses incurred during the five-day transporter’s strike that ended that day. According to a rough estimate, they incurred a loss of Rs 100 crore.

Members of the Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) held a meeting on Monday night to assess the losses incurred during the five-day transporter’s strike that ended that day. According to a rough estimate, they incurred a loss of Rs 100 crore.

In Noida, 500 large trucks engaged in supply of goods and raw materials to industries were off the road for five days. (HT file photo)

In Noida, 500 large trucks engaged in the supply of goods and raw materials to industries were off the road for five days, participating in the nationwide strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC). The body wanted toll barriers to be removed and a one-time payment introduced for commercial load carriers.

The AIMTC called off its strike at 9 pm on Monday after a meeting with Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, after which it issued a circular among all associated bodies and members asking them to resume work.

“As per our rough calculations, we have incurred a loss of around Rs 100 crore. We have suffered a loss of human hours too as our workers sat for hours without anything to do, our machines were shut in the absence of raw materials and so on. However, we have to pay workers’ salaries as they are not at fault. We were in regular touch with transporters and the ministry to end the strike,” said VP Malhan, president of the association.

The transporters had agreed to call off the strike after a concrete assurance by Gadkari that their demands will be looked into.

“A committee under transport secretary Vijay Chhibber has been formed to look into the transporters’ demands. It will submit its report to the minister before December 15,” an officer on special duty (OSD) to Gadkari said, adding that toll barriers cannot be removed, but delay at toll booths and fuel consumption etc are valid points that will be considered.

Meanwhile, Bhim Wadhwa, AIMTC president, said, “The inconvenience to factories was not our aim, but we removal of obstacles from the system at toll barriers across national highways and the related corruption is something we want addressed. We will for the committee’s report.”