Transporters to raise freight rates by 8-9 pc on diesel hike

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Following hike in diesel rates, transporters today said they will raise freight rates by 8-9 per cent with immediate effect on all routes across India.

"Freight rates will be raised by 8-9 per cent for all the routes from today onwards because of increase in diesel rates," North India Motor Road Transport Association (NIMRTA) President Charan Singh Lohara told PTI.

Singh is also a senior member and Ex-President of All India Motor Transport Congress.

The impact of increase in freight rates will be visible on transportation of all kinds of goods, including perishable commodities like vegetables and industrial items, he said.

"The new booking of orders will now be done on the basis increased rates," Singh added.

The freight rate from Ludhiana to Mumbai will increase by Rs 2,000 to Rs 24,000. Similarly, freight rates of other routes will be also increased, he cited an example.

According to Lohara, there are over 60 lakh trucks running across the country, playing a vital role in transporting goods from one part of the nation to the other.

Centre yesterday hiked the diesel prices by Rs 3 a litre along with the increase in kerosene and LPG by Rs 2 per litre and Rs 50 a cylinder, respectively.

Transporters said hike in diesel prices would adversly impact their business. "Our input cost has already upped substantially in the last one year because of the rising tyre prices, surging toll taxes and insurance cost. Now increase in diesel rates will further hit our businesses," said Ludhiana-based transporter Sarabjit Singh.