Global economic slump hits Gujarat transporters

Saurashtra (Gujarat), Apr 4 (ANI): The truck industry of Saurashtra in Gujarat has bulk of its long fleet lying idle.

A conservative estimate says that there were more than one lakh of trucks always running to meet the demand. However, the recession has completely changed the scenario for last two to three months. Almost 3,00,000 people dependent on the transport industry for their livelihood are without any succour. The truck drivers are not getting their salaries. "Almost 80 per cent of the industry has been hit because of this global slump. Those industries that demanded for ten trucks are now managing with only two of them whereas the rest keep on lying there. Another problem is when the trucks reach their destination; there also they have to wait for days to get the goods loaded. Because of this, the expenditure keeps on increasing and it gets difficult for the financer of the trucks to pay the bank installments," said P.K Jadeja, a truck driver.The truck association of Rajkot has lost all hopes for a revival."Here in Rajkot, 10,000 trucks are loaded in a month. Among them, only 40,000 get loaded whereas the rest remains unloaded. When these trucks reach Surat, they keep on standing there for two days for goods and when they finally get loaded and come back in Rajkot again they have to wait here for the goods. The market condition is very bad at the moment," said Dashrath Singh Gohil, Vice President, Rajkot Goods Truck Association.Besides decreased demand of trucks, a hike in prices of diesel and increase in toll taxes compounded their woes. By Suresh Soni (ANI)