No toll till October, need insurance: Transporters

MUMBAI: Transporters, including those involved in the supply of essentials, have opposed toll collection which will resume on national highways on Monday. They said that transport fraternity is “financially broke”. They also demanded medical insurance of Rs 50 lakh for drivers risking their lives to transport essential goods during the pandemic.

“There should be thermal screening and test facilities for Covid-19 for all drivers and cleaners on highways,’‘ said Bal Malkit Singh of All India Motor Transport Congress.

Transporters said it will be difficult to ply trucks if the toll is resumed from next week. They said toll collection must be deferred till October 31.

Singh said that toll charges comprised 20% of total operational cost. “On one hand, the government wants continuity of essential supplies and on the other hand, it has demanded toll charges from us when we are financially broke,” he said.

Source: The Times of India