The Hindu Business Line : Truckers' strike on June 20 to protest toll charges

THE All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) plans to suspend movement of trucks from Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu to other parts of the country from June 20 protesting against the collection of toll charges.

The National Highways Authority of India is bringing the National Highway 7 from Krishnagiri to Bangalore under toll from June 20.

"We will station all our trucks near the tollgate at Krishnagiri on that day, if the Government does not withdraw the toll charges by then," Mr G.R. Shanmugappa, South Zone Vice-President, AIMTC, told newspersons here on Tuesday.

"We will begin with the South, and slowly take up the agitation across the country," he said.

The toll charges between Chennai and Kolkata for a return trip is Rs 1,900, which is around 6 per cent of the total freight, he said. The truckers pay a diesel cess of Rs 2 a litre; the Centre has so far collected Rs 64,515 crore from this cess.

The truckers also pay road tax, national permit cess, customs and excise duty and sales tax on all products they buy.

"Why should we pay toll when we are already burdened with so many charges," asked Mr Shanmugappa.

There are nearly 42 lakh trucks in the country, and around 12 crore people are dependent on this industry, he said.

The AIMTC, which represents the interests of the truck industry in the country, has also demanded a uniform sales tax on diesel throughout the country, a curb on crimes on highways and allowing insurance for old vehicles by all insurance companies.

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