Truckers body says drivers may threaten to stop plying essential goods for want of facilities

Lack of facilities on highways of food, toilet truck drivers may go back to their hometowns

Mumbai: The truck drivers ferrying food-grains and continuously supplying them to Mumbai city are waiting from almost one month for the state transport ministry to provide them food and toilet facilities on highways and overnight stay shelters. The transport operators associations across the state are living in fear that if the proper facilities are not provided to the truck drivers then they may stop plying their goods vehicles after May 3. 

If the truck drivers stop operating their goods carriers Mumbaikars will not be able to get their supply of essential commodities supply nearby in the lockdown.  The truck drivers are already operating there vehicles for more than a month without any facilities ensuring Mumbaikars get all the essential goods they need. 

The leaders of Transport Operation Associations claim that truck-drivers commuting intra-state and inter-state are facing huge problem of non-availability of food, water, toilets and overnight accommodations during their travel. That is the reason why various state associations fear that if lockdown is extended beyond May 3, the drivers of the heavy vehicles may go back to their native places. 

In amidst of coronavirus outburst the state and central governments had continued the supply for food grains across the country. The essential services are allowed to operate during the lockdown.

On March 29, the Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Bus Tankers Vahatuk Mahasangh in a meeting with the state Transport Minister and commissioner had put forth the basic need of food, water and overnight stay for truck-drivers in the state.  Maharashtra has around 10 lakh trucks and other goods vehicles. The Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Bus Tankers Vahatuk Mahasangh, has 40 thousand trucks operate from Jawhaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).

Daya Natkar, Secretary of The Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Bus Tankers Vahatuk Mahasangha, said , ” The drivers of trucks eat on highways Dhabas ( hotels) and if needed they sleepover also. However, we had brought the issue to the notice of the transport minister and Commissioner as well. We also suggested that let the terminals be allowed for rest room, they can be provided food packets at the same.”

Natkar further pointed out that in the absence of dhabas and toilets along the highways while operating intra-state and out of state creates hygiene issues along with health disorders.

The drivers who are operating from JNPT and APMC are residents of Mumbai, they cannot travel back to their residences. They need to be allowed to stay in overnight shelters or rest rooms. The drivers are constantly on the move and availability of water is a big issue. Hence if mobile toilet facilities are provided by the state government along the routes then the uninterrupted essential service can continue. If not the truck drivers have plans to go back to their natives in UP and Bihar.

“At present the drivers are cooking food by themselves which is difficult and dangerous as they cook in the cabin of trucks and lorries itself. With excessive usage of sanitizer on their hands to avoid any external contact, it may lead to fire or explosion,” added Natkar.

Natkar also pointed out 40 thousand odd truck drivers most of them reside in slum areas which have turned hotspot zone in Mumbai. “These drivers cannot be sent to their homes as the food grains are carried by them but failing to provide either food, water and stay we are unable to hold them if further lockdown extended by the state government of Maharashtra, ” he added.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab said, “we have asked for dhabas (hotels) on highways to operate. I had talked with the collector in Ratnagiri on it. I will take meeting for Mumbai truck operators in the next week.