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BENGALURU: In an attempt to regulate the movement of goods vehicles and streamline the business of goods transportation, the transport department has rolled out a new tariff structure for trucks and other goods vehicles on the lines of the ones issued for autorickshaws and taxis.
The revised tariff will be applicable with immediate effect, the department said. While a few operators have criticised the government over the new tariff, others have hailed it, saying this will restore order in the industry, apart from putting an end to exploitation by a few.
Sources in the department have revealed to TOI that the new tariff is applicable to trucks with 6-16 wheels operating within Karnataka.
“Revision of tariff has been one of the key demands of the truckers’ associations, though we couldn’t approve it for the last 20 years. The cost of operating a truck has also shot up considerably because of rise in fuel costs, auto spare parts, insurance, cost of chassis, road tax and other charges. This is burning a hole in the truck operators’ pockets,” said a senior transport official. “Keeping these in mind, we have approved a uniform tariff that will benefit both operators as well as consumers.”
GR Shanmukhappa, general secretary (south zone) of South India Motor Transport Association and president of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association, said: “In the absence of [a standardised] tariff, operators were charging arbitrary amounts ranging from Rs 40 per km for a six-wheel truck and Rs 58 per km for a 14-wheel vehicle.”Shanmukhappa said after Odisha, Karnataka is the second state to introduce a tariff for goods vehicles.
‘No scientific basis’
Meanwhile, a few truck operators have opposed the move. Naveen Reddy from the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association complained that the new tariff lacks a scientific basis. “The government has been charging us road tax and other cesses, but has it fixed the roads? Has it ever cracked down on overloading of trucks?” he asked. He added that what was required is not a new tariff, but good roads and an end to corrupt practices.
The revised tariff will be applicable with immediate effect, the department said. While a few operators have criticised the government over the new tariff, others have hailed it, saying this will restore order in the industry, apart from putting an end to exploitation by a few.
Sources in the department have revealed to TOI that the new tariff is applicable to trucks with 6-16 wheels operating within Karnataka.
“Revision of tariff has been one of the key demands of the truckers’ associations, though we couldn’t approve it for the last 20 years. The cost of operating a truck has also shot up considerably because of rise in fuel costs, auto spare parts, insurance, cost of chassis, road tax and other charges. This is burning a hole in the truck operators’ pockets,” said a senior transport official. “Keeping these in mind, we have approved a uniform tariff that will benefit both operators as well as consumers.”
GR Shanmukhappa, general secretary (south zone) of South India Motor Transport Association and president of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association, said: “In the absence of [a standardised] tariff, operators were charging arbitrary amounts ranging from Rs 40 per km for a six-wheel truck and Rs 58 per km for a 14-wheel vehicle.”Shanmukhappa said after Odisha, Karnataka is the second state to introduce a tariff for goods vehicles.
‘No scientific basis’
Meanwhile, a few truck operators have opposed the move. Naveen Reddy from the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association complained that the new tariff lacks a scientific basis. “The government has been charging us road tax and other cesses, but has it fixed the roads? Has it ever cracked down on overloading of trucks?” he asked. He added that what was required is not a new tariff, but good roads and an end to corrupt practices.
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