Truckers threaten to suspend operations

As a result, the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA) has warned that it members were planning to suspend operations via National Highways, probably from midnight of November 24.

Conveying this to reporters in Salem after chairing an urgent meeting, General Secretary of the association G R Shanmugappa said that almost 80 per cent of the truck operations have been affected since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currencies were demonetised. He said that truckers were finding it difficult to get payment for the trips, since the industry mostly operates on the cashand-carry mode. “Many trucks have already gone off road without trips owing to the dearth in availability of notes,” he said. According to Shanmugappa, around 9.5 lakh trucks, trailer and container carriers, were plying in South India. 

“They transport approximately 8 lakh tonnes of cargo per day across the length and breadth of the country. Truckers from south India are the worst hit by the demonetisation decision as they account for a major share of national permit holders in the country. Our drivers are stranded in various states and are unable to return to the base,” he said. Regarding the user toll fee collection, the general secretary said that the 351 toll plazas across the nation collect Rs 40 crore every day. “We want the toll plazas to remain open till December 31. In turn the government can increase cess for diesel by Rs 1.5 per litre and pass it on to the private players that are collecting toll. Fuel stations should also accept the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. If this arrangement is not done, then we have no other option but to withdraw the vehicles from the road,” he added. 

Representatives of truckers’ associations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry participated in the meet and promised to extend their full support and cooperation to the decision taken at the SIMTA meeting.