Tamil Nadu: Truck operators go on strike; paddy movement hit

Truck operators in delta districts observed a day’s strike on Thursday to protest the increase in renewal fees for heavy vehicle fitness certificates by the Union govt. The strike disrupted paddy movement from direct procurement centres and warehouses for a day in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation is procuring paddy from farmers during the samba and thaladi crop seasons at its direct procurement centres. The procured paddy is subsequently transported to warehouses, open storage points, hulling mills, and train wagons.

In Nov 2025, the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) introduced multi-fold increase in fitness certificate renewal fees for heavy and medium commercial vehicles, allegedly to promote greater adoption of the vehicle scrappage policy. “A majority of lorry owners are facing severe economic hardship due to the multifold increase in fees, especially those operating vehicles more than ten years old. Their families are being pushed into debt,” said N R Pandiyan, secretary of Tiruvarur Lorry Owners Association.

On Thursday, representatives of lorry owners associations in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai submitted petitions to the respective collectors. They called on the Centre to withdraw the fee hike for renewals. The collectors assured them that the demands would be conveyed to the relevant authorities. The representatives have said they will launch an indefinite strike from Feb 16 if no decision is taken to revoke the hike.

According to Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, around 10,000 tonnes of paddy is moved daily in Thanjavur, 8,000 tonnes in Tiruvarur, 3,000 tonnes in Mayiladuthurai, and 2,000 tonnes in Nagapattinam.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.