Truck Owners Strike Halts Construction Work in Krishnagiri for Fourth Consecutive Day

The Truck owners’ strike paralyzes construction work in Krishnagiri for the fourth consecutive day, Krishnagiri district faced a standstill as the four-day truck owners’ strike cripples the entire construction sector over here. Quarry charges have started sparking off truck owners’ protests.

It is the stone quarries of Denkanikottai, Thally, Hosur, and Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri. It’s from these areas that most of the construction in Tamil Nadu and even in neighboring Karnataka occurs. These quarries supply the materials M-Sand, B-Sand, Robo-Sand, and Jallikattu stone every day through tipper trucks to areas in and around Hosur and Bengaluru.

Earlier this month, quarry operators hiked the material price considerably. It used to cost truck owners ₹125 per tonne. However, the rate has now zoomed to ₹200–₹225 per tonne. Transporters had an additional cost in their coffers. Getting annoyed with such a steep rise, truck owners launched a strike, demanding immediate withdrawal of the hike.

It had ripple effects everywhere. The halt in transportation completely brought construction activities to a standstill in Hosur, Bengaluru, and other areas surrounding it. The builders and contractors are now in a tight spot with the resulting delays in completing projects on schedule and rising costs.

Neither side has been able to agree on a decision. The quarry owners cite an increase in operational costs, such as labor and machinery, to justify the price increase. Truck owners claim that at least the price increase is impossible and not just because it cuts too sharply into thinning profit margins.

The local authorities are also being pushed to intervene and calm the situation to avoid further disturbance in the region’s construction industry. For now, the strike continues, leaving both industries and consumers to bear the brunt of the impasse.