BONGAON: Movement of goods through Jessore Road to Bangladesh via the Petrapole land port near Bongaon in North 24-Parganas was disrupted after hundreds of truck drivers went on strike on Saturday morning.
Truck drivers belonging to unions affiliated to both Citu and Intuc called the strike to protest against the terrible condition of Jessore Road. Craters have appeared on the busy road, leading to frequent breakdown of vehicles. The district administration is yet to take up repairs despite calls from all quarters.
Truckers on Saturday put up a roadblock at Petrapole near the Indo-Bangla border, demanding immediate repairs to the road. "The worst stretch is between Bongaon and Petrapole. It is full of craters, some of which are a foot deep. In long stretches, there is no asphalt," said Sukhvinder Singh, a truck driver.
Drivers also blamed the poor road conditions for traffic near Bongaon. Jessore Road is an important link for import and export of goods between Bangladesh and India. The road is also used by passengers commuting between Dhaka and Kolkata.
Over the past few weeks, movement of goods has been seriously affected as trucks have been caught in traffic snarls and suffered breakdowns along the way. "We have to wait for hours in Bongaon," said another lorry driver.
The roadblock disrupted loading and unloading of goods for several hours on the border. Police said around 300 truck drivers led by Citu and Intuc leaders put up the blockade.
Later in the day, Bongaon SDO Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, BSF officials and the local administration discussed how to solve the matter at the earliest. "BSF officials have permitted the local administration to fill up the potholes within 48 hours," Mukhopadhyay said after the meeting.
Truck drivers belonging to unions affiliated to both Citu and Intuc called the strike to protest against the terrible condition of Jessore Road. Craters have appeared on the busy road, leading to frequent breakdown of vehicles. The district administration is yet to take up repairs despite calls from all quarters.
Truckers on Saturday put up a roadblock at Petrapole near the Indo-Bangla border, demanding immediate repairs to the road. "The worst stretch is between Bongaon and Petrapole. It is full of craters, some of which are a foot deep. In long stretches, there is no asphalt," said Sukhvinder Singh, a truck driver.
Drivers also blamed the poor road conditions for traffic near Bongaon. Jessore Road is an important link for import and export of goods between Bangladesh and India. The road is also used by passengers commuting between Dhaka and Kolkata.
Over the past few weeks, movement of goods has been seriously affected as trucks have been caught in traffic snarls and suffered breakdowns along the way. "We have to wait for hours in Bongaon," said another lorry driver.
The roadblock disrupted loading and unloading of goods for several hours on the border. Police said around 300 truck drivers led by Citu and Intuc leaders put up the blockade.
Later in the day, Bongaon SDO Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, BSF officials and the local administration discussed how to solve the matter at the earliest. "BSF officials have permitted the local administration to fill up the potholes within 48 hours," Mukhopadhyay said after the meeting.
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