Truckers call off 9-day stir: Withdrawal decision taken after meeting IRDA officials in Hyderabad

Mysuru – The truckers, who were on an indefinite stir from the midnight of March 30, pressing for fulfilment of their various demands including the roll-back of the increased premium for third party insurance, hike in penalty and toll fee among other demands, called off the stir yesterday evening, after they were assured by the authorities of meeting some of their demands.

Following the assurance, lorries are back on the road from yesterday evening in the district. The stir was called off, after the delegation from Truckers’ Union held a meeting with Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) officials in Hyderabad yesterday.

“After talks with Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) officials failed on Friday, the lorry stir, which was confined to South India only was extended throughout the country on Saturday morning. But after we were assured by the Government that our demands would be met, the stir was called off. I thank the traders and labourers (loaders and unloaders) who supported us and also apologise to the public for the inconvenience caused to them.

— B. Kodandaramu, President of Mysuru District Lorry Owners Federation.

Following the stir called by the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA) to press for their various demands, lorries in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Karnataka had gone off the roads since nine days for which the Mysuru District and City lorry owners had extended their support by stopping transportation of goods. But as transportation of essential commodities were exempted there was supply of the same and the public did not feel the heat of the stir. As there was no transportation of construction materials, construction activities had come to a standstill in city.

There was fear that the truckers would intensify their stir as the meeting with IRDA Officials on Friday was not successful and the stir, which was being held in South India was extended across the country from   Friday midnight.