Truckers go off roads in Bengal

Kolkata, Jul 02 (UNI) Truckers in Bengal today went off the roads for indefinite period, responding to a countrywide strike to press for abolishment of toll and service taxes on cargo handling and storage.

Calcutta Goods Transport Association general secretary Raja Roy said the chakka bandh on the first day was impressive thoughout Bengal.

The strike although did not have much impact immediately but its prolongness would surely affect the daily lives in general and particularly in power and steel sectors.

Hundreds of trucks were seen parked at Posta, Burrabazar, commercial hub of eastern India.

Retail fish markets in the city and suburbs were also affected as trucks from Andra Pradesh were not allowed to ply with wares.

Roy said the Centre had thrust upon the truckers to go for extreme (strike) as tax regimes had made the business to come to rockbottom.

Indian trasnport industry has about 48 lakh registered commercial vehicles with about two crore people getting direct employment and another ten crore livelihood, said Roy.

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