Truckers' strike: Talks with insurance authorities fail

 The truckers’ strike is likely to continue with the failure of talks between transport operators and insurance authorities on Monday.

South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association president G R Shanmugappa said Insurance Regulatory Development Authority chairman T S Vijayan and transport secretary Abhay Damle, who participated in the meeting, failed to address their demands. The truckers are on strike since April 1 opposing the hike in insurance premium.

“There were 20 members demanding them to roll back the hike in insurance payment, but the officials stuck to their stand. There was no other way for us than to walk out,” he said.

Meanwhile, petrol pumps in the city saw huge crowds as people rushed to fill their vehicle tanks. Shanmugappa said truckers who transport petroleum products were yet to decide on joining the stir as a meeting scheduled on Monday was postponed. Meanwhile, the All India Motor Transport Congress has decided to join the stir on April 8. “Nearly 24 lakh vehicles in south zone have come to a standstill. If the strike spreads across the country, the number will go up to 65 lakh, impacting all sectors,” he said.

About 500 local lorry associations have announced their support to the strike, which is set to push up the vegetable prices in the coming days.