West Bengal Truckers’ 72-Hour Strike to Tackle Overloading and Harassment

Truckers in West Bengal have announced a 72-hour strike starting from Wednesday to protest against overloading and illicit fees. The strike, organized by the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association, could disrupt essential supplies during the festive season. They allege harassment by police and land revenue officers.

Truckers in West Bengal have called for a 72-hour strike starting from Wednesday to address a host of demands, including a ban on overloading, according to their association.

The Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association (WBTOA), which organized the strike, warned it could disrupt the supply chain of essential goods ahead of the festive season. Subhas Chandra Bose, an office-bearer of the FWBTOA, announced the strike would commence at 6 am on Wednesday.

Bose stated that despite repeated appeals to curb overloading, the issue persists due to collusion between certain truckers and officials. This practice not only deprives truck owners of fair transportation fees but also causes damage to infrastructure and increases the risk of fatal accidents. Additionally, truckers have alleged that Rs 236 per truck are being illegally demanded at weighbridges in some districts such as Birbhum and Coochbehar to allow overloading. They also claimed that low cargo volumes have left 3 lakh of the estimated 7 lakh trucks in the state out of business and cited harassment by police and land revenue officers in various areas.

(With inputs from agencies.)