The Ministry of Home Affairs April 15 issued revised guidelines during the lockdown with a roadmap for operations after the phased lifting of the lockdown starting April 20.
The MHA guidelines allow for the movement of all trucks and other goods and carrier vehicles. To smoothen supply chain issues, an empty truck or vehicle will be allowed to ply after the delivery of goods or for pick-up of goods.
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This has been done to ensure trucks do not face harassment at check posts. According to All India Motor Transport Congress, there have been several cases where FIRs have been registered against vehicles carrying non-essential commodities to Delhi.
To ensure driver fleet returns to work, trucks will be allowed with two drivers and one helper. The driver must carry a valid driving license.
However, AIMTC in it's letter to the government had demanded to allow 5 drivers with a valid driving license to travel in a truck after screening them properly.
"Post-implementation of the lockdown, only 5-6 percent of 70 lakh drivers are currently working. Many of them have left for their native homes and refuse to return, fearing for their safety," Naveen Kumar Gupta, Secretary-General, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said.
Find other stories related to MHA guidelines on Lockdown 2.0 here.
Further, to ensure that the whole ecosystem for truck drivers and supply chain does not get disrupted, shops for truck repairs and dhabas on highways will be allowed to operate, with a stipulated minimum distance, as prescribed by the state authorities.
Unless truck drivers are assured they will not be stranded without food and water for days in case of a breakdown, the road transport sector is likely to see a shortage of drivers during the coming months.
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