Truckers body demands immediate rollback of diesel price hike
In reaction to the hike in diesel prices, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Friday raised road freight charges by up to 15 per cent.
The AIMTC said the industry was not in a position to absorb the burden caused by the Rs. 5 per litre increase.
The truckers body demanded an immediate rollback of the diesel price hike, saying the common man would be burdened by the consequent rise in the prices of essential commodities.
On the other hand, the Railways, in not reacting to the diesel price hike, appears to have taken the estimated annual loss of Rs.1,200 crore in its stride.The Railways consume about 250 crore litres annually.
Earlier this year, the Railways hiked freight charges by about 30 per cent. It had also hiked passenger fares of the high-end air-conditioned coaches. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed the hikes in sleeper class and second class passenger fares effected by the then Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi — a disagreement which cost Mr. Trivedi his job. Mr. Trivedi’s successor, Mukul Roy, withdrew the hikes, saying it affected the common man.
Railway officials refused to comment on whether any hike in freight and passenger fares were in the offing following the hike in the price of diesel, which forms the basic fuel for over two-thirds of the railway network. Pointing out that diesel price hikes had been absorbed in the past, the officials said the decision would rest on Mr. Roy and his party’s stand on vital economic issues.
Keywords: AIMTC, road freight charge, diesel price hike
