Movement of over 3,000 trucks and trailers will come to a grinding halt from August 1 as the Jamshedpur Truck and Trailers Owners Association has decided to go on a strike in support of their demands.

The decision to go on an indefinite strike from August 1 was taken in meeting on Thursday.

The association has demanded the government to bring down the price of diesel. It also wants a hike in transportation charges for raw materials, especially iron ore supplied from Barbil and other parts of Odisha to industries in Jamshedpur and its adjoining areas.

"Supply of raw materials, especially iron ore, manganese and limestone, required in steel industries and sponge iron plants would be affected as trucks and trailers won't ply from August 1 due to the indefinite strike. We have also submitted a memorandum in this regard with the office of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner and senior SP," said D. K. Rai, patron of the association, while talking to The Telegraph Online.

He went on to say that while the Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected the transportation business, the hike in diesel prices, which is now available at more than Rs 80 per litre, has aggravated the situation.

"We also demand a hike in transportation charge of iron ore and other raw materials for industries. Currently, we get Rs 1,050 for carrying per tonne of iron ore. Our demand is to raise the per tonne carrying charge to Rs 1,500," added the senior functionary of the association.

The association is also preparing a task force for preventing entry of heavy vehicles from other states at the borders.