90% of trucks stay in shed, goods pile up

NAMAKKAL/THOOTHUKUDI:� The Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners’ Federation chief on Friday said they were ready for talks if invited by the Union government.

“Our doors are open for talks,” said federation president K Nallathambi here.

He, however, added that the truckers would end their stir only if the Centre took substantial steps to resolve the issue of toll charges.

Goods movement in the State was crippled with nearly 90 per cent of the trucks staying off roads in response to a strike call from the South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association.

Sources said as poultry farmers were supporting the stir, a stock of 3 crore eggs had piled up in farms here.

Meanwhile, lorries doing shunting operations to the VOC Port in Thoothukudi have stopped operations.