In India, trucks are the most commonly used to deliver all essential and non-essential goods via road. Even during this pandemic trucks carrying essential items have been allowed to run by the state and central government. There is however a growing fear among the transport sector in Mumbai is that the truck drivers may return back to their home villages after the lockdown is lifted on May 3. If that happens there might be a shortage of trucks that are delivering these key elements to Mumbaikars.
“Already, some of the drivers have gone back to their villages and others are stranded on highways, waiting to ply trucks till the stated destination once the lockdown is lifted and then quickly return home. This may impact the essential and non-essential goods supply chain,” said Abhishek Gupta from the Bombay Goods Transport Association.
These truck drivers were running supplies across the city when the lockdown was announced on March 25. However, many faced trouble transporting goods and some were even stopped or beaten by the police, Gupta said. While some stayed on, several left their trucks and headed back to their villages, he added.
Meanwhile, the All India Transporters Welfare Association is urging truck drivers to return back to work so they can earn their livelihood again. “We requested the government for Rs 50 lakh insurance for every truck driver who was risking his life and was a frontline worker to deliver the essentials. But this has not been announced,” said Bal Malkit Singh from the All India Motor Transport Congress which is the national body of transporters including truck drivers.
There has been a shortage of truck drivers during the epidemic in Mumbai, and by paying more to the truck drivers, authorities can ensure that they appropriately incentivized for putting themselves at risk each day. While permitted trucks are allowed to ply freely across Maharashtra with proper documentation, some are still facing trouble on a day-to-day basis.
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