Transporters call for nation-wide strike: The what and why of protests

High fuel prices and repeatedly stopping at toll plazas are some of the things transport organisations in the country are protesting against.

New Delhi: Transporters across the country have called for a nation-wide strike on Friday - a move which could see supply of goods, especially essential items (barring milk, vegetables and medicines), taking a hit.

The strike has been called by All India Motor Transport Congress and has received support from several state truck associations including Mumbai Bus Malak Sangathana which is responsible for school buses operating in the city.

Mumbai: Students face inconvenience as All India Motor Transport Congress has started its protest all over Maharashtra against the constant increase in diesel prices, uncontrollable toll expenses, GST compliance issues, practical problems with e-way bills and some other issues pic.twitter.com/Ex1nqGilVd

So, what are the demands and why is the transport community unhappy?

For starters, the rising price of fuel has made people at large quite unhappy and has left truckers - in particular - absolutely fuming. One of the major demands, hence, is that diesel prices be brought under GST, that there is uniform pricing across the country and that the revisions in prices are quarterly.

Many truckers are also demanding toll-barrier-free movement across the country. They say it would help them in keeping not just costs in check but also stop delays. A national permit for buses and tourist vehicles can be opted for, they say. School bus operators also want toll-free movement.

There is also a demand for transparent and reduction in third-party insurance premium paid through exemption of GST on TPP. Truckers also demand the abolition of TDS, rationalisation of presumptive income in section 44AE of Income Tax Act and E-Way Bill operational issues.

As many as 93 lakh trucks could be off the roads on Friday, with almost 33 lakh trucks among travelling inter-state daily.