Transporters say not able to sustain highway toll charges

Protesting against proposed resumption of toll on national highways from Monday, transporters' apex body AIMTC on Sunday said it will adversely affect rabi crop procurement, adding that over 85 per cent transporters are cash-starved small operators who are not able to sustain toll fee.

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body for transporters that represents about 95 lakh truckers and transport entities, sought suspension of toll till May 3.

After temporarily suspending toll collection on national highways across the country from March 25 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to resume toll collection from Monday, a move that is being opposed by transporters.

"As per inputs received from across the country, procurement of rabi crop will be disturbed, as more than 85 per cent, finance-starved small operators can't sustain toll burden starting April 20. Tolls must be suspended at least till May 3," All India Motor Transport Congress President Kultaran Singh Atwal said seeking the PMO's intervention.

Atwal said that more than 85 per cent of the transport fraternity have one to five vehicles and about 65 per cent of them are self-employed owner-drivers.

He added, "No relief is forthcoming from the government, instead toll burden starts...facilitation instead of earning should be the way forward."
AIMTC Secretary General Naveen Gupta told PTI, "Only 15 per cent of the transporters own big fleets but they are also helpless...some have vehicles transporting essential goods while others are facing shortages of drivers."
On March, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced: "In view of COVID-19, it has been ordered to temporarily suspend the collection of toll at all toll plazas across India."