The indefinite nation-wide strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) demanding scrapping of the toll system in the country entered its third day on Saturday triggering fear of further price rise in Odisha.
As the State imports more than 90 per cent of its requirements of essential goods from other States, the truckers’ strike is likely to lead to increase in prices of the commodities. “If the stocks available in the State are exhausted by Monday, it will create a difficult situation in the market,” said a member of the Odisha Byabasayee Sangh.
Due to the logjam, prices of pulses have already increased by Rs15 per kg. Price of potato has increased by Rs5 per kg, sources said.
“It’s a nationwide strike; so, we have no role in this. And we all know the strike will continue till the Government comes out with some practical solution to truckers’ problems,” said Odisha Truck Owners’ Association general secretary Rabi Satpathy. Notably, around 1.7 lakh trucks from the State out of 87 lakh trucks across the country have remained off the roads.