Life limps back to normalcy in Himachal, a day after truckers’ strike triggered panic buying of fuel
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TNR Desk
DHARAMSHALA: After a two-day-long strike against the recent changes in the Motor Vehicle Act pertaining to hit-and-run cases, nearly 30,000 trucks in Himachal Pradesh are back in motion from Wednesday (January 3, 2024).
The strike had paralysed the state’s transportation sector, leaving the supply chain disrupted and causing widespread distress.
Late on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the deadlock finally came to an end as petrol and diesel supplies reached various districts of Himachal Pradesh. People breathed a sigh of relief as oil tankers reached the petrol stations, easing concerns about fuel shortages.
The strike had affected the operations of over 12,000 trucks, impacting industries and three major cement factories in Nalagarh, with Ultratech, Ambuja and ACC cement factories being the most affected. The production and transportation of raw materials and finished goods had come to a halt, causing significant disruptions.
In Nalagarh, 12,000 trucks were stranded, and in the Kala Amb industrial area, 500 trucks remained parked, along with 900 trucks in Kullu. The truckers were protesting against the amendments in the Motor Vehicle Act related to hit and run cases.
Simultaneously, the private bus services, which had also joined the strike, are now back on track after the successful resolution of the issues. Private buses, numbering around a 1,000, were parked in Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Baddi and other locations as operators protested against the recent changes in the law. On Tuesday, companies dispatched 432 oil tankers to different districts of the state to alleviate the fuel shortage. Hindustan Petroleum sent 96 tankers, Bharat Petroleum sent 14 and the Indian Oil Corporation sent 227 tankers. Additionally, IOCL dispatched 55 tankers of diesel to the Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation.
The resumption of fuel supplies led to long queues at Himachal Road Transport Corporation’s (HRTC) Tutikandi pump on Wednesday morning. The queues extended from the petrol station to the crossing, causing a significant traffic jam. However, the situation is expected to improve as oil supply is anticipated to arrive at HRTC stations later in the afternoon.
