Transport Sector: Fuel price increase further deepens crisis

Vijayawada: Transport sector is facing a dire situation with ever increasing fuel prices. Diesel prices have increased by Rs 10.35 per litre and petrol by Rs 9.17 in the last one month.

On Saturday, the diesel price was Rs 78.48 per litre as against Rs.68.13 on May 27. The petrol price per litre is Rs 83.36 on Saturday as against Rs 74.19 per litre exactly a month ago.

Oil marketing companies have been continuously increasing the prices of diesel and petrol since June 7. The Union government is collecting road tax, national permit tax and other taxes up to Rs 30 on each litre of fuel apart from VAT and other charges by the state governments.

By June 18, the petrol price crossed Rs 80 mark and diesel price reached Rs.74.75 per litre. The fuel price reached to the highest level causing tough situation for the transport sector, particularly the owners, who eke out a living running one or two vehicles.

Transport sector, which depends on the diesel and petrol, will be plunged into further criss if the price rise continues in the country and the state.

About 3 lakh trucks and other goods carriers are in the state providing livelihood to more than 10 lakh drivers, cleaners, technician, loading and unloading workers.

Due to lock down, manufacturing sector and trading activity have seen slump for nearly three months. Consequently, the transport sector is losing income due to lack of demand. Most truck operators have been left without work.

The truck operators are demanding the Union government to immediately withdraw the increased prices and stop collecting road tolls. They are also demanding the Andhra Pradesh government to waive one quarterly tax to the lorry owners.

The Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners Association general secretary Y V Eswara Rao said the association has decided to stage protests on June 29 at 9 am across the state demanding the state government to waive one quarterly tax and Central government should stop collection of toll charges at the toll plazas.

"Transport sector has lost hope of its recovery in this financial year. Manufacturing and distribution chain has broke down in the country due to Covid lockdown and other developments like increasing cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Truck operators get freight charges when there is supply of raw materials, manufacturing of goods, their supply to wholesalers, distributors, retailers and end-use consumers," Eswara Rao said.