Bhubaneswar, Oct 1 (IANS): Around 1.70 lakh truckers from Odisha on Thursday joined the nationwide indefinite strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) demanding scrapping of the present toll system.

The truckers' body is also demanding one-time payment of taxes besides simplification of tax deducted at source (TDS).

Nearly 87 lakh trucks across the country have joined the strike, said sources.

As the trucks remained off the road, transportation of goods to various places in the state was badly affected.

However, essential commodities and perishable goods have been kept out of the purview of the strike.

"We were forced to go on strike after several unsuccessful discussions with the central government. We have no option left but to go on strike," said Odisha Truck Owners' Federation general secretary Rabinarayan Satpathy.

He said the central government has increased the number of toll gates following which truckers were facing numerous problems including wastage of fuel due to standing and idling trucks and delayed deliveries.

The truckers' body in Odisha is also demanding non-implementation of green tax proposed by the state government. The government has announced that a green tax would be imposed on vehicles older than 15 years to discourage such vehicles from plying.