Lorry owners strike in Telangana enters second day

The indefinite strike by the Lorry Owners' Association of Telangana to press for their various demands, including reduction in the rate of third party insurance, entered the second day today.
The call for strike has been given by the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA).
SIMTA member and Telangana Lorry Owners Association secretary G Durga Prasad claimed 80 per cent of the transport vehicles, including lorries and mini vehicles, remained off the roads.
According to the Association leaders, the members suspended their transportation services since yesterday and took to streets and held protests across Telangana.
SIMTA has been demanding that the Centre and the state governments should reduce the third party insurance prices; cut challan and toll fees, and other Regional Transport Authority (RTA) fees.

Durga Prasad said the Association has been demanding a single permit system for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana among other demands.
The Association has demanded that the government roll back hike in VAT on diesel and to withdraw the proposal to scrap 15-year old vehicles.