Trucker strike at the Cochin port entered the eighth day today with the deadlock over the parking fee continuing. Talks failed between the port authorities and the striking truck owners.
The strike has paralaysed the working of the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) as around 4,000 imported containers are lying for want of trucks to clear them.
General manager of India Gateway Terminals, which operates the RGCT, Suresh Joseph, told Business Standard that at least 2,500 containers for export had been diverted to other ports due to the strike. It will take at least 5 days to clear the backlog owing to the strike. Meanwhile, three vessels have been awaiting in the outer sea to get their turn to the port.
According to a senior official of a shipping agency, the shipping companies had so far lost Rs 10 crore due to the on-going strike.
Truck owners have now decided to approach the High Court against the strict implementation of parking fee from January 4.