Truckers begin indefinite strike, but Mumbai unaffected

Truckers across the country began their indefinite strike on Monday, but it’s unlikely to affect supplies to Mumbai as the agitation has received poor response in the city and across the state as well. Also, the transport of essential commodities such as vegetables, fruits, fuel and milk have been exempted from the stir.

The All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association (ACOGOA), one of the apex truckers’ bodies, has called for the indefinite, nationwide strike to protest soaring diesel prices, toll charges and the steep rise in Third Party Insurance premiums.

While the association claimed that around 27 lakh truckers across Maharashtra would stay off the roads for the ‘Chakka Jam’, truck operators said that as of now there is no impact of the strike in Mumbai, and that it is unlikely to affect the city as no big unions have backed it.

“Our unions are not participating in the strike,” said a trucker from Carnac Bunder, requesting anonymity. “They cannot afford to keep vehicles off the roads even for a day.”

Of the three apex bodies of transporters in India, the powerful All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) had called for a strike on July 20 for the same reasons, but ACOGOA announced a stir suddenly last week, a leader said, on condition of anonymity. “The fact is, ACOGOA has little presence in Maharashtra, compared to AIMTC,” he said, adding: “There will be clarity on the response to the strike by Monday noon.”

Traders in the wholesale APMC market at Navi Mumbai said that as of now, supplies are unaffected.