press trust of india
New Delhi, Oct 1: Truckers Thursday proceeded on a nationwide indefinite strike Thursday morning on the call of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) to protest against the present toll system.
The strike began after talks between the government and AIMTC representatives failed as the truckers’ body said the offer of an electronic-toll system by December was not practical.
Essential commodities like milk, vegetables and medicines were however kept off the purview of the strike. Another truckers’ body AITWA has said it is not joining the strike.
AIMTC is demanding scrapping of the toll system, terming it a tool of harassment. It has suggested replacement of the toll system with a one-time payment of taxes besides simplification of TDS.
Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari Wednesday offered a pan-India electronic-toll system by December to address the truckers’ concerns but made it clear that scrapping of toll system is not possible.
AIMTC president Bhim Wadhwa said the electronic toll system offered by the minister is no solution. “E-tolling project of the government is a failed concept… even their pilot project has failed. The partnering banks viz. ICICI and Axis Bank too has distanced itself from the project (sic).” “The strike is likely to cause Rs 1,500 crore loss to truckers and over Rs 10,000 crore loss to government on a daily basis,” Wadhwa said.
When asked if the pullout of All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) would affect the strike, Wadhwa said AIMTC was the apex body and represented about 87 lakh trucks and 20 lakh buses and tempos.
Gadkari assured truckers the government would provide a wide network of good roads with no delays after the electronic toll system in which toll will be collected electronically through chips fitted in the vehicles at toll plazas.
AIMTC said it is not against toll, but the toll collection system, and has demanded barrier-free movement of vehicles as well as one-time collection of taxes.