Lorry strike evokes mixed response in city

Vijayawada: The strike by truck operators evoked mixed response in and around the city. The trucks plied as usual in the city. However, the impact was seen in other districts, according to reports reaching here. The city has seen almost no response from the strike enforcers. Lorries carrying essential commodities moved without any interruption in the city. There are about 25,000 lorries in the city.

As most of the lorries engaged in transfer of goods and essential commodities, the people heaved a sigh of relief. The lorries supplying water, milk and other things moved as usual.

The officials have been assessing the situation and trying to avoid trouble to people. Transport officials were busy in meetings.

In all, three lakh lorries have been plying from the state to other parts of the country. The strike enforcers asked the state government to cut VAT which was Rs 4 per litre of diesel in the state.

The trucks from the city usually go to Delhi, Tripura, Meghalaya and other distant places. YV Eeswara Rao, general secretary of Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners' Association, told The Hans India that the response to bandh was overwhelming. They were receiving positive messages from different places which indicate the success of the strike, he said. The lorry owners’ leader said the strike would not be visible in a city like Vijayawada as they don’t have enough parking lots. They have comparatively good sheds to park lorries in other districts to make the strike a success. At such sheds in other places, they could park at least 400 lorries at each place, according to Eeswara Rao.

Some drivers, on the advice of their owners parked their vehicles outside the city and participated in the strike. A truck driver said some strike enforcers had stopped them for some time. However, they later allowed the trucks to move without any hurdles, they said.