Nationwide truck strike from October 1

New Delhi: When the government did not revoke any TDS or toll charges, it was announced that a nationwide indefinite strike will be held by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) from October 1. 

Bhim Wadhwa, the president of the apex transporters body, told IANS, "We had a meeting with Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, who refused to talk on the issues (including the removal of toll charges)." "A deadline till August 25 was addressed to the Centre speaking about their issues, but the demand seems to have fallen on deaf ears, which leaves us no choice but to go on a strike from October." He



added.

The strike would make the government lose Rs.1,700 crore per day. Wahwa urged the government to work out an alternative method to collect toll that would not only contain illegal collection but save diesel worth thousands of crores of rupees.

"The transport fraternity cannot sustain operations in light of burgeoning corruption, harassment and time delays at the toll plazas and check post barriers. They have decided not to pay toll on road and want that the revenue may be collected as indirect tax and therefore proclaim 'barrier free India' and removal of toll plazas across the country," Wadhwa said.