South India Lorry Strike from August 1? Truck Owners Set Deadline for Centre and States
Lorry owners have threatened to launch a South India-wide strike from August 1 if their demands over mandatory GPS devices, panic buttons and border checkposts are not addressed before the deadline.
A major disruption to freight movement could be on the horizon, with lorry owners announcing plans for a South India-wide strike from August 1. The protest has been called by the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMA), which says it will suspend operations if its demands are not addressed by the Central and state governments before July 30.
According to the association, the strike could affect nearly 2.4 million lorries across southern India, including around 700,000 commercial vehicles in Karnataka, potentially impacting the transportation of essential goods, industrial supplies and agricultural produce.
One of the primary issues raised by the association is the mandatory installation of GPS tracking devices and panic buttons in commercial goods vehicles. Truck owners argue that installation costs vary significantly between states and have called for greater transparency and a review of the policy.
The association has also demanded the immediate removal of border checkposts in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, claiming that similar checkpoints have already been abolished in several other states to improve the movement of commercial vehicles.
SIMA President G.R. Shanmugappa said the association has given both the Centre and the concerned state governments until July 30 to respond. If no satisfactory decision is taken by then, lorry owners across South India will stop operations from August 1, he said.
Industry observers say a prolonged strike could disrupt supply chains, delay deliveries and affect businesses that rely heavily on road transport. However, the association has expressed hope that talks with the governments will lead to a resolution before the strike begins.
