Alleging that they are being harassed at border checkpoints, truckers from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka have threatened to stop operations from October 2 if checkpoints along these states are not removed, as per assurances by the state governments.

“Why do states have border checkpoints after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)? The 214th Managing Committee Meeting of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) was held on September 2 in New Delhi and transporters and leaders from every nook and corner attended it.  Members have expressed their angst and anger at the persistence of illegal border checkpoints in various states, especially Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, where exploitation and extortion of vulnerable truckers has now touched its threshold,” Bal Malkit Singh, chairman, the core committee, AIMTC, told mid-day. “We have had a series of meetings with various ministries and the chief minister about the issue and we had been given a positive assurance, but nothing seems to be happening on the ground,” he explained.