Truckers call off strike

Thiruvananthapuram: The strike by truckers seeking quick vehicle clearance at Walayar check post bordering Tamil Nadu in Palakkad district has been called off following an agreement reached with agitating operators during a meeting convened by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The All India Motor Congress (AIMTC), which had called for the strike, had claimed that Rs 6,000 crore worth of good had got stranded following the hold up of trucks.
Government had agreed to the requests put forward by the truck operators, an official release said today.

The six-day old strike was called off last night.

It was pointed out at the meeting that 30 cents of land needed for developing facilities at Walayar, now under stay from High Court, will be utilised once the stay was vacated.

On the demand of truckers to install modern scanners at the check post, it was agreed to place Gujarat model scanners there. Steps will soon be taken to ensure clean drinking water at check posts. Water authority would be directed to take necessary steps, the release said.

Service roads will be developed so that around 200 trucks can be parked without hindering the traffic. Government will hand over necessary funds to the National Highway authority in this regard, it said.

The call for the strike had been given by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) demanding steps for early clearance of vehicles at the check post.

The trucks carry a variety of consignments ranging from vegetables, textile and electronics across Walayar, the gateway to Kerala, everyday.

Meanwhile, an office bearer of AIMTC said at Coimbatore that normalcy will be restored within the next 2-3 days.

He said the AIMTC was hopeful that the assurances given by the Kerala Chief Minister will be implemented without delay.

This included increasing the check posts to 14 from the present three, besides providing basic amenities including bathing and toilet facility for the truckers, he said, adding Rs 6,000 crore worth of goods and other commodities had got affected during the strike period. Of this half of it was from Tamil Nadu, he said.