Textile tempo association threatens indefinite strike from Aug 13

SURAT: The

Textile Tempo

Transport Association has threatened to launch

indefinite strike

starting from August 13 to protest against the police action on tempowallas.


About 40 tempos were detained for creating traffic jam at textile markets on Ring Road. The tempo association has stated that about 70 per cent of the markets have no parking facilities and transport vehicles are forced to load and unload textile goods on the road.

Of the 165 textile markets located on Ring Road, only 35-40 markets have parking facilities. Until now, the market management were charging hefty parking fees from visitors and transporters ranging from Rs 20 per hour to Rs 50 per hour.

Following the representation by tempo transport association and social activists, city police commissioner asked the textile market managements to provide free parking in markets.

Sources said the markets have started providing free parking, but the rush of transport vehicles has increased causing traffic jams on Ring Road. The parking spaces at the existing markets is not sufficient to cater to the large number of visitors and transport vehicles.

Talking to TOI, secretary of the Textile Tempo Goods Transport Association Shaan Khan said, “About 40 tempos were detained by the police on Friday. The poor tempowallas have been earning on daily basis and they are unable to pay the hefty fine amount. It is the responsibility of the civic body and the police to clear encroachments and illegal constructions in the textile markets.”

Khan added, “We have decided to launch indefinite strike from August 13 demanding enough parking for the tempowallas”