Barak-Meghalaya Truck Movement Resumes After Freight Dispute Settlement

Movement of trucks carrying goods from Assam’s Barak Valley to Meghalaya resumed on Saturday, bringing relief to both transporters and cement companies after a weeklong strike.

The deadlock over transportation of cement to Meghalaya was resolved on Friday following a bilateral meeting between representatives of the cement companies and officials of the Katigorah Truck Owners’ Association at Kalain in Cachar district.

Hundreds of trucks from Katigorah and other parts of the Barak Valley have long been engaged in transporting cement to Meghalaya-based companies.

The impasse began after several cement companies reportedly slashed transportation rates, pushing truck owners into heavy losses. Many operators said they were unable to pay their monthly EMIs due to the reduced freight rates.

In protest, the Katigorah Truck Owners’ Association, supported by the Barak Valley Truck Owners’ Coordination Committee, called for a boycott on the transport of cement and other goods for the companies, effectively halting supplies to Meghalaya.

Friday’s meeting was attended by senior officials from various cement companies, who assured the truckers that their concerns would be addressed.

A cement company vice-chairman Pradeep Purohit said considering the losses suffered by truck owners, the companies had already decided to increase transportation rates.

He also promised that the Barak Valley trucks would be given preference in future transportation assignments and that companies would not use their own fleet unless there was an acute shortage of local trucks.

Both sides agreed to hold another meeting soon to determine minimum freight rates and prevent similar disputes in the future.

The truckers placed a five-point charter of demands before the cement company officials, represented by association leaders Maulana Enam Ullah and Jabir Hossain Laskar.

Describing the meeting as “cordial and fruitful,” Ullah confirmed that the boycott had been withdrawn and transportation would resume immediately.

Speaking to reporters, Purohit said the issue was “a small misunderstanding within a family.”

“Cement companies and truck owners in this region are interdependent. We are committed to working in the best interests of the people of the Barak Valley and Meghalaya,” he added.

With the strike lifted, truck movement to Meghalaya resumed smoothly on Saturday morning.

Also Read: Assam-Meghalaya Taxi Standoff Leaves Tourists Stranded, Resolved After Talks