AP Lorry owners call off strike after talks with Centre

Vijayawada: Truck operators, who began nation-wide strike on July 20 on various demands, called off the stir on Friday night after the talks held between the Union government and All India Motor Transport in Delhi succeeded. Consequently, nearly one crore trucks which were halted across the country will move from Friday night.  

Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners’ Association general secretary Y V Eswara Rao announced on Friday night that the Central government had agreed to concede some of their main demands.

Truck operators are facing burden of third-party insurance premium, rise of diesel prices and toll tax on the national highways. On the request of the Union government, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India has agreed to review the third-party premium paid by the truck operators.

The truck owners are vexed with the high premium and have been asking the Central government to reduce it. The IRDAI will discuss the possibility of reducing the premium with transporters on July 28.

The government has also agreed to create a mechanism with advanced technology for the seamless movement of vehicles through the toll plazas as the transporters are strongly demanding reduction in toll plaza tax or total abolition of tax on national highway.  

A committee set up by ministry of transport will explore the possibility of using new technology and minimising the manual interface in this regard. The ministry of transport also agreed to extend the insurance coverage for drivers of the commercial vehicles.

Abhey Damle, joint secretary the ministry of transport and representatives of the All India Motor Transport, issued a joint statement immediately calling off the strike. Y V Eswara Rao announced the truckers in AP will call off stir midnight.