Truckers stir may raise essential food items' prices by 15%: Assocham

NEW DELHI: As transporters' nationwide strike entered the fifth day today, industry chamber Assocham said prices of essential commodities such as fruits, vegetables and milk may increase by up to 15 per cent if the stir continues.

Besides, the strike has adversely impacted the government's revenue to the tune of Rs 36 crore.

"With over one crore trucks and tempos on strike since the past five days, it has led to shortage of essential commodities like milk, fruits and vegetables and their costs are likely to increase by about 10-15 per cent per day if the strike continues," an analysis on the financial impact of the truckers' strike conducted by Assocham revealed.

The industry body said the nationwide indefinite strike has already affected about 20 billion tonnes-km of freight traffic movement.

"Besides, the strike by truckers has also impacted government revenues worth over Rs 3,600 lakh realised through road transport," it added.

Apex transporters body All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) had called on a strike on October 1 demanding scrapping of the present toll system.

AIMTC claims the cumulative loss to the truckers in five days would be about Rs 7,500 crore while the loss to the government could be more than Rs 50,000 crore.

The Body boasts of having 87 lakh trucks and 20 lakh buses and tempos across the country under its fold.

According to reports from states, movement of goods has been impacted in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, among other places.

However, supply of essential goods such as milk, vegetables and medicines has been kept out of the purview of the strike.

Another truckers body, All India Transport Welfare Association ( AITWA) has decided to keep away from the strike.

Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, the stir has impacted the movement of goods and caused a revenue loss of Rs 6,000 crore to the state, said a Jaipur Transport Operators' Association (JTOPA) spokesman.

Over 6.34 lakh trucks have been off the road since October 1, and over 7 lakh daily wage employees working for 13,000 transport companies in the state are on strike, the spokesman said here.