Chennai, April 15 ,2025

Goods transportation between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka came to a grinding halt on Tuesday (April 15) following an indefinite strike launched by truck operators in Karnataka at midnight on Monday (April 14).

The strike, called to protest against the recent hike in diesel prices and demanding a reduction in toll charges, significantly affected the movement of lorries along National Highway 948 (Dindigul–Mysuru), particularly the busy Sathyamangalam–Bannari–Dhimbam–Hasanur stretch.

This critical route, spanning 29 km through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR)—from the Bannari check-post to the Karapallam forest check-post near the Karnataka border—typically witnesses heavy lorry traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

On Tuesday, however, most lorries, except those carrying essential commodities, remained off the road. Hundreds of trucks loaded with vegetables, fruits, milk, poultry, sugarcane, coir, and other agricultural and industrial goods were parked along roadsides in Sathyamangalam and its surrounding areas.

Truck operators from Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, and other nearby districts—who routinely use this corridor for trade between the two states—refused to resume operations until the strike is withdrawn.

Check-posts at Bannari and Karapallam, usually bustling with activity, wore a deserted look, with only a few private vehicles making their way through.

A Forest Department official noted that more than 1,200 lorries typically pass through the Karapallam check-post daily, transporting goods between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

“On Monday, lorry movement had already dropped by 50%. On Tuesday, it was minimal,” the official said.

Lorry owners confirmed that vehicle loading and dispatch will resume only after the strike is officially called off.