The Hindu Business Line : `Transporters strike total in Mumbai'

AN estimated 50,000 trucks that move in and out of Mumbai and the neighbouring areas every day stayed out of the roads on Saturday, the first day of the indefinite nation-wide strike.

The strike was called by the transporters to protest against the Centre's proposed 10 per cent service tax on the transport industry.

While the inbound traffic is dominated by trucks carrying industrial products like metal products, plastics and medicines, the ones carrying out-bound cargoes, including medicines and consumer items, could not move out of Mumbai.

Describing the strike in Mumbai as total, Mr Mahendra Arya, President of the Bombay Goods Transport Association told Business Line that the movement of essential commodities like vegetables, fruits, milk and water has been exempted.

Asked about the response from the Government, he said, "At least the Government is concerned now, which may get translated into them calling us for serious talks." He said the four-point charter of demands of the transporters included scrapping of the proposed service tax and 1 per cent TDS on the turnover of truck owners and ensuring safety on highways.

The impact of the strike was greater on the operations of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which is already burdened with the problem of congestion. With fresh containers landing at the port, the problem was compounded as cargo evacuation from the port was paralysed.

According to reports, in neighbouring Nasik district, more than 850 trucks, 900 tempos, 350 tankers and 700 transporters joined the strike, paralysing movement of goods. Truck operators from Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar and Ahmednagar districts, under the Nasik division, also joined the stir.

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`Transporters strike total in Mumbai'