According to sources truckers in the Salem-Namakkal belt, who form the bulk of lorry and truck operators in Tamilnadu on Thursday struck work in response to the nationwide call by commercial vehicles transport operators to protest the exorbitant fines and other penal provisions under the newly amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act enacted by the Central government.
Meanwhile Mr C Dhanraj, treasurer of the Tamilnadu Lorry Owners Federation treasurer said nearly four lakh of the 4.65 lakh truckers in Tamilnadu were off the roads today as the joined the dawn to dusk protest, leading to stagnation of nearly Rs 100 crore worth goods which remain stranded due to the strike. The hike in NH toll rates and diesel price have also added to their woes that the goods transport business in Tamilnadu faced a severe slump, adding, 50% of the truckers were not even able to cover their operational costs now and were not even getting their receivables.
Moreover considering the long-term viability of the industry is at stake, Mr. dhanraj said the new Act has severely hit the truckers all over the country and added that the Central government should immediately withdraw the amended MV Act.
