The supply of textile goods in the city of Surat came to a standstill as truck drivers staged protests on highways. Transporters reported that a majority of trucks carrying textile goods did not depart from the city on Monday.
Nehal Budhhadev, Secretary of the Surat Textile Goods Transport Association (STGTA), explained, “We are not allowing the trucks to leave due to the risk of damage to goods. Protests are occurring at multiple locations in different states, and the trucks that usually leave the city daily did not depart today,” reported TOI.
Truck drivers are demonstrating against the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita’s proposed harsh penalties for hit-and-run incidents. Truck drivers implicated in hit-and-run accidents might face a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs. 10 lakhs, according to the proposed law. A truck driver who works with a textile transporter said, “Drivers are worried over such a stringent law and not ready to take the risk of driving a vehicle.”
An official from the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) remarked, “There will be an impact on trade if textile goods are not supplied from the city. Currently, there are no issues.”
