90% of trucks in India are now off roads amid coronavirus lockdown

The world’s biggest lockdown has brought transportation of goods in the country close to a halt, even though the government has exempted the sector from restrictions to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Daily movement of trucks has collapsed to less than 10 per cent of normal levels, according to All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), an umbrella body of goods-vehicle operators representing about 10 million truckers. Road transport accounts for about 60 per cent of freight traffic in India and 87 per cent of its passenger traffic, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Trucking has