Surat, the country’s biggest manufacturer of man-made fabric has over 170 textile markets consisting of nearly 50,000 textile trading shops on Ring Road area of the city due to which most of the textile goods transport companies have been functioning from residential areas in and around textile markets.

Acting on the complaint of residents, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has sealed over 70 transport godowns on Saturday and Monday as they were causing nuisance and traffic problems.

SMC officials said that of the total 300 textile goods transport companies, over 150 have been functioning from residential areas in and around textile markets.

Surat Textile Goods Transport Association (STGTA) began an indefinite strike from May 23 against such crackdown. Its president Yuvraj Deshle said that the SMC officials have sealed many godowns and offices stating that they had been causing traffic bottlenecks. The association is trying to meet the Surat municipal commissioner for the last three days, but to no avail. It said most of the godowns are out of residential areas and do not cause any nuisance to the public.