Supply chain faces disruption with over 5 lakh trucks stranded at state borders

Due to lack of availability of food and other amenities, most drivers have parked the trucks on highways.

Pramiti Lonkar

April 02, 2020 / 10:00 PM IST

Representative image

Despite government directives to ensure smooth transportation of goods, more than 5,00,000 trucks are stranded at highways and inter-state borders.

While the government has allowed plying of trucks carrying non-essential commodities, the directives have not reached the regulators on-ground.

"There have been several cases where there have been FIRs against vehicles carrying non-essential commodities to Delhi. Although the government has allowed the trucks without discrimination, the sudden shutdown has led to non-receipt of goods even at the warehouses. More than 5,00,000 trucks are stranded. There is no labour to offload the goods," said Naveen Kumar Gupta, Secretary General, All India Motor Transport Congress.

As migrant labourers have gone to their native places, manpower is not available for loading and unloading of goods. According to Gupta, traders are not taking delivery as godowns, factories and warehouses are closed. Further, they may be facing financing issues as 90 percent of transactions are cash-based.

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