Rs 100 notes leave truck drivers stranded

M R Kumarasamy, president of the State Lorry Owners Federation - Tamil Nadu (SLOF-TN), said that many drivers and cleaners were shocked shopkeepers and hotels refused to take Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, which ceased to be legal tender since midnight of Tuesday. Stating that there were close to 2.75 lakh lorries in the state, he said that at least 50,000 of them always remain out of state bounds and even in the far northern states. 

“The drivers and crew don’t carry much cash as there have been many incidents where they have been waylaid and brutally murdered by highway robbers. So, we deposit money for their food and fuel in the banks and they withdraw it from ATMs. But they are unable to spend the banned currencies of higher denominations,” Kumarasamy said.

He claimed that fleet operators had been receiving multiple calls from their crew since Tuesday night. “But there is no solution in sight. Refilling of fuel would not be a problem, but, the drivers and crew are going without food,” he added. This will directly affect taking goods to the destinations. 

Currently, the federation is coordinating with their counterparts in other states to help their stranded drivers get food and basic supplies. Vice-president of the federation and senior All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) representative N P Velu called the sufferings of their drivers and cleaners as their sacrifice for the growth of the nation. “It is inevitable,” he added.

Confusion at toll plazas Confusion prevailed at the toll plazas too on Wednesday, with tollgate staff refusing to take Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. As commuters did not have change for the user toll fees, vehicles piled up at many plazas. While some plazas allowed those without change to pass without collecting toll, others accepted a meagre amount Rs 10 or Rs 20 to let go of vehicles.