Transporters, MSMEs wary of a lockdown

Ferrying essentials may be hit as drivers head for hometowns; fresh orders on hold

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike in several parts of the country, fears of a fresh nationwide lockdown have caused panic among transporters and MSMEs. Following protests by traders, restaurant owners and their employees in Maharashtra, which is under a mini-lockdown and night curfew, transporters warned that supplies of essential items and medicines may be impacted as drivers were heading to their hometowns in large numbers. “We understand that the lockdown measures in several States are slowly leading to concern among the drivers,” said Abhishek Gupta, joint secretary, All India Transporters Welfare Association.“Over the last few days numbers of drivers going to village is increasing. They fear that if trains are stopped they may be stranded again,” Mr. Gupta said. “The Central government must take necessary steps to inform that transport will not be affected, else we will have a similar situation as seen in first few weeks of March 2020,” he added.