Hike in petrol and diesel prices turn burden on transportation: AP Lorry Owners Association

Amaravati: The petrol and diesel prices have been increasing every day from last four to five days, which turned as an additional burden on the transportation, observed the Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners Association in a statement on Wednesday.

P Gopal Naidu, president of the Association stated that at least Rs 0.60 paise on diesel per litre has been increased every day. He further explained that despite getting crude oil in the national market at very lowest prices, the union government was not passing the benefits to the consumers. He said that the union government-imposed Rs 18 as Road Cess and another Rs 10 as Excise Duty on each litre of diesel in the country.

In addition to that, the central government was imposing additional burden through highway Toll, informed YV Eswara Rao, General Secretary of the Association. He demanded the union government to reduce the burden on the fuel and also highway toll. When it comes to the toll fees, the government is increasing yearly. He said that the Association requested the union government to exempt the toll collection for six months, as all the truck owners incurred serious losses due to the lockdown followed by COVID19 pandemic.

At the same time, the exempted six months could be extended at the end of the toll plaza duration, he observed. But the government did not pay attention to the problems of the consumers, which would drastically hurt the transportation sector in the near future.