Truck freight charges hiked by 15% across India: AIMTC

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The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Friday said it has increased freight charges across the country by 15 per cent following the hike in diesel prices.

"We have decided to pass on the burden of increase in diesel price hike to customers. The freight charges will be increased with immediate effect by 15 per cent across India," AIMTC spokesperson G.P. Singh told agencies.

He further said the transport industry was not in a position to absorb the price hike.

"The increase in diesel price will hit the common man as the cost of basic items will shoot up," he said.

Asking for a roll back of the diesel price hike, Singh said the government has not heeded the transporters' plea not to increase diesel price and AIMTC was keeping "all our options open" to press for its demand.

The apex body of truckers across the country, AIMTC claims to have around 80 lakh trucks under its aegis.

On Thursday, the government hiked diesel prices by a steep Rs 5.62 a litre. This was the biggest-ever hike in diesel prices excluding VAT or local sales tax following which the fuel is sold at Rs 46.95 per litre in the national capital as against Rs 41.32 a litre earlier.

Diesel prices were last hiked by Rs 3.37 per litre in June 2011.