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Movement of goods from across commercial centres in the state was severely hit on the first day of the indefinite strike called by the southern zone motor transport welfare association.
The association claimed that 5 lakh lorries had stayed off the roads while Tamil Nadu surface transport federation (TNSTF) said 60 per cent of its lorries were doing business.

However, arrival of vegetables was not affected in the city as lorries from other states reached Koyambedu market before Thursday midnight.

On Friday, goods like textiles and turmeric from Erode, sago from Salem, salt from Thoothukudi and Vedaranyam, broiler chicken from Palladam and readymade garments from Tirupur, besides cement from Ariyalur, vegetables from Ooty piled up resulting in loss of several crores to lorryowners and traders.
Several lakh drivers and cleaners and several thousand workers in the Tirupur garment industry went jobless.
Asserting that there was no calling off of the strike, Tamil Nadu lorry owners federation president K.Nallathambi said: “The strike is successful as nearly 4.5 lakh lorries were not operated in the state. We would hold talks only if the Centre honours the agreement signed in December 2010, by issuing a G.O.” on reducing toll.

TNSTF president Sugumar said the strike had no impact in the northern districts and nearly 60 per cent lorries were operated.

In Chennai, though merchants had said prices of vegetables would be stable for the next two days, people found prices going through the roof in retail veggie stores. Arrival of onions from Maharashtra has stopped, but alternative arrangements are made to get it.

Namakkal egg status Egg farmers of Namakkal say situation is not bad as retailers have stocked up on eggs for next few days.