Mumbai, Apr 21: Crucial talks between truckers, Maharashtra government officials and industry captains today to resolve the ongoing transport strike in the state, failed to achieve any breakthrough, even as transporters expressed readiness to ply vehicles from tomorrow with payment of Rs 500 fine per day in keeping with a High Court directive. The government insisted that the truckers could ply their vehicles provided they pay the fine for the entire month. However, the truckers representatives turned down the government proposal and sought a clarification from the high court whether the fine should be levied from tomorrow or from April one, according to Maharashtra Rajya Vhatuk Mahasangh President Mohinder Singh Ghura. The High Court would hear the matter tomorrow.
The talks were held in the presence of transport secretary Ajit Varte instead of the Chief Secretary.
Meanwhile, the truckers' strike in the state continued to affect supply of vegetables and fruits to the market and that of goods to the industrial units.
The Mahasangh continues to exempt transporters carrying essential commodities, Ghura said.

About 4.5 lakh commercial vehicles are off the roads in the state since march 31 to protest the Mumbai High Court's order of phasing out of 15-year-old vehicles.

The state transporters joined the nation-wide indefinite strike from April 14 demanding uniform road tax, freight rate and diesel prices.
Bureau Report