Nationwide transporters' strike is feared to affect costs of the essential commodities and make them dearer by about 10-15 per cent per day as 20 billion tonnes-km of freight traffic movement across India has been stalled, informed trade body Assocham today.
A nationwide indefinite strike call by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has already affected about 20 billion tonnes-km of freight traffic movement causing shortage of several essential commodities like milk, fruits and vegetables.
"With over one crore trucks and tempos being on a strike since past five days, it has led to shortage of essential commodities and their costs are likely to increase by about 10-15 per cent per day if the strike continues," an analysis on financial impact of transporters’ strike conducted by the economic research bureau of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
"Besides, the strike by truckers has also impacted government revenues worth over Rs 3,600 lakh realised through road transport," it said.
In Gujarat alone, estimated loss to the trade has crossed Rs 5,000 crore with over 4,00,000 small and big trucks being off-road in the state since last Thursday.
Assocham has also appealed to the union government for its intervention to end the stalemate to promote road transport as the share of high value low volume traffic is bound to increase.