Truckers' indefinite strike across India to hit economy

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NEW DELHI, (Internet): Movement of goods over road is set to get paralysed as more than four million trucks will keep off the road, beginning Wednesday, as part of the nationwide indefinite strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

Experts said any interruption in the supply of these commodities may result in a loss of over Rs 15 billion to the economy every day.

Over 75 per cent of the total cargo in the country is transported by road. This includes commodities like cement, fertilisers, food grain and steel, general cargo like FMCG products, leather goods and high-value cargo like refrigerators, electronics and other white goods.

Though truck owners in some states like West Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have declared to stay out of the general strike, it will not help in easing the pressure, said experts. The striking goods transport agencies (GTAs) control over 90 per cent of the total cargo carried over road.

Praveen Khandelwal, the secretary general of the Federation of All India Traders, said: "The strike is going to have an impact on the movement of commodities like foodgrain, vegetables and other raw materials for trade and industry. But it will take another 3-4 days to assess the exact impact of the strike. We have advised our trade bodies to act wisely and check any undue increase in commodity prices."