3.5 lakh trucks carrying Rs 35,000 crore goods stranded on roads

NEW DELHI: An estimated 3.5 lakh inter-state trucks carrying goods worth over Rs 35,000 crore are stranded on roads, outside factories and godowns, according to transporters.

The goods range from cars and SUVs to two-wheelers and white goods such as ACs, refrigerators, washing machines, electrical items and industrial raw material such as chemicals, steel and cement.

Truckers and transporters TOI spoke to said the goods are at risk of damage and even pilferage as drivers and helpers have run away in many cases due to the absence of food, money or proper sanitation. Also, in most of the cases, there are no helpers and other support staff to unload the stocks once they have reached their destination, be it factories or dealerships and godowns.

“It is a painful situation for truckers and goods worth thousands of crores are literally lying on roads. Something should be done immediately to help us out,” Kultaran Singh Atwal, president of All-India Motor Transport