Reverse diesel price hike or we go on strike: Truckers to govt

"We  shall request  the Government to reconsider  its decision and roll back the hike in fuel prices, lest we may have to consider stopping the plying of our vehicles" said DTA general secretary Sundeep Jain.

The government yesterday hiked diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre, domestic LPG by Rs 50 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. However, the final rates vary across cities due to differential rates of VAT/sales tax.

Diesel in Delhi has become expensive by Rs 3.37 to Rs 41.12 a litre from today.
Another truckers union, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has also demanded a roll back in diesel prices, and termed the government decision to hike fuel prices as "unwarranted".

"AIMTC strongly protests and deplores the current hike in diesel price. We find it totally unacceptable, unjustified and unwarranted....We request the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for I00 per cent roll back of current diesel price hike...," said AIMTC President G R Shanmugappa.

Instead of passing the burden on common masses, the government should ensure operational efficiency of oil companies, Shanmugappa said, warning that the step might lead to rise in transportation cost of industrial goods by up to 25 per cent.

Meanwhile, apprehending sharp increase in truck rentals and freight rates on account of hike in diesel prices, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT) today said that the government should keep an eye on truckers to prevent such an eventuality.

"With Rs 3.37 per litre diesel price hike, IFTRT based on market feedback apprehends arbitrary increase in truck rentals and retail parcel freight rates by truckers as done in past. The government should ensure that truck rentals do not outpace diesel price," said IFTRT coordinator SP Singh.

In the present scenario, diesel price hike should not increase the truck rentals by more than 4 per cent, whereas truck unions are gearing up for more than 10 per cent hike, he said.