The former president of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), Bal Malkit Singh, has recently said that the Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Indian Government are affecting the transport sector very adversely. Currently, the transport sector is largely dealing with the transportation of essential items as the general shops are closed in many states due to restrictions. Due to this, the sector is facing “₹315 crores loss each day” as the restrictions has imposed across the country.
Bal Malkit Singh, who is also the chairman-core committee of AIMTC showed his concerned over the effects of Covid-19 restrictions on the Indian transportation sector. While speaking to ANI, former president on Saturday gave an estimated value of the loss that the sector is facing each day after the restrictions have been imposed. He said “transport sector is facing a loss around Rs 315 crores each day.” He mentioned that the shops these days are closed and only the ones that are dealing with essential items are operating currently in most of the states.
He further elaborated the on-going situation of the transport sector and said that the current demand for trucks have been limited and went down by 50 per cent all over the country. He added that currently the demand of essential items including medicines, PPE kits, oxygen cylinders food items, grains, etc. have been increased and these are the items that are transported these days in majority. However, transportation of the majority of other items apart from essentials ones have been ignored and have been halted in many states in India, including Maharashtra.
As Maharashtra is one of the foremost automotive manufacturing states and houses many financial capital of the country, the Covid-19 restrictions by the state is affecting the poor truckers very adversely these days.
For the economic safety of the drivers, Bal Malkit Singh raised the concern to the government stating that these poor truckers are already not financially stable. “They have to organise for taxes, insurance, driver’s salaries, EMIs,” he added.
He demanded from the government to exempt the toll and road taxes as it was imposed last year by the Indian Government. He also mentioned that government should plan some measures and relief plans to help the truck drivers such as waiving the state taxes, free parking, among many other benefits.
In addition to that he also demanded from the government that the workers and drivers involved in transportation system should be taken as priority just like the healthcare workers for getting the COVID-19 vaccination.
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