Andhra truckers call off strike

The week-long truck operators' strike in the state has been called off this evening, after chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy assured the unions that the government would take steps to redress their grievances.

Gopala Naidu, president of the Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners' Association announced the decision to call off the strike after holding talks with the chief minister.

Although the truck operators in the state had joined the nationwide strike on August 21, they agreed to a request from the chief minister to come for negotiations in public interest.

Responding to the local demands of the truck operators' unions, the chief minister reiterated that the government would dispense with the collection of toll tax by the state government, which amounts to Rs 15 crore a year.

The chief minister has also assured to implement a government order (GO) issued by the previous government pertaining to the abolition of entry tax by municipalities and panchayats.

He has also agreed to the demand of the State Motor Transport Operators' Association to provide parking places on the outskirts of the Hyderabad city, according to a press release issued by the chief minister's office.

Meanwhile, transport commissioner Biswal said that both the AP Lorry Owners' Association and the State Motor Transport Operators' Association had agreed to call off the strike with immediate effect.