North Chennai was hit but a flash strike by more than 300 drivers and cleaners on Wednesday evening protesting against inordinate delay in letting the export containers into the Chennai Port Trust, the Hindu reported.

According to informed sources, trouble began at Chennai Port Trust since Tuesday night as the Customs officials took nearly 10 to 12 minutes to clear a container against three minutes earlier.

The slowdown was due to the cautious approach adopted by a Customs officer on Tuesday night. Till late evening, there was hardly any progress and lorries and trucks were seen lined-up till Ernavoor.

Some of the agitated lorry owners said that the issue could be solved once for all by erecting more gates on the lines of tollgates at zero gate and by deputing more officials to check the containers.

Chennai Customs Commissioner (Imports) C. Rajan said, "here was a delay in clearing the consignment on Tuesday night due to an over-cautious officer. We have posted two Preventive officers at the gate and we expect the issue will be cleared by tomorrow morning."

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-North) S Manoharan said an average of 1,000 container lorries and about 700 trucks entered the Port premises every day. The vehicles often get piled up along the Ennore Express Highway causing obstruction to free traffic flow.