Truckers defer strike

Truckers body AIMTC on Friday said it has decided to defer the strike which was to begin from April 1 following assurances from the government that its demands would be considered in a time-bound manner.

"This (strike) has been deferred till further notice on assurances from the government that all the demands would be considered in a time-bound manner," All India Motor Transport Congress president Bal Malkit Singh said.

AIMTC has had detailed discussions with the officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, he added.

Earlier, AIMTC had warned that 75 lakh trucks and 40 lakh buses will stop plying from April 1 if demands, including withdrawal of hike in diesel prices and rollback of hike in third party insurance premium, were not met.

Disappointed over no concrete response to their demands from the RTH Ministry, AIMTC officials had said that several rounds of talks with senior officials were in vain.

AIMTC, an apex body of transporters (both cargo and passenger) is demanding withdrawal of the hike in third party insurance premium, rollback of partial de-control of diesel prices and removal of anti-dumping duty on import of tyres saying that these issues have adversely impacted road transport sector.

"We would be forced to keep our 75 lakh trucks and 40 lakh buses off the roads if the government fails to address our demand by March 30. The nationwide indefinite strike, as per our estimates, would cost Rs 2,200 crore (Rs 22 billion) per day to the economy," Singh had said. AIMTC Vice President Kultaran Singh Atwal had said: "We would be left with no other option than to surrender 20 lakh permits to the government from April 1 onward in Delhi itself if the government does not pay attention to our demands."

Truckers had raised concerns over third party insurance premium being hiked substantially for goods vehicles.

The Third Party car insurance policy covers legal liability for any compensation to be paid arising from accident caused by one's vehicle. It includes liability for death or injury to third parties like pedestrians, occupant of other vehicles, and outsiders other than passengers.

AIMTC is also demanding industry status for the Road Transport sector, fixation of minimum freight rates for the sector, action against states indulging in illegal entry.