Chennai: an increase in the level of user fees at 21 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu began Wednesday could cause price increases of essential commodities, say transporter, against higher costs amid a sharp spike in the price of diesel.
While the toll at Chennai is being removed, a road trip along the southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu will be more expensive to the national highways authority of India (NHAI) increase toll charges by 4% to 10%.
At booth 21 – the majority of which are located in the Chennai-Madurai (NH 45) and Chennai-Salem (NH 79) highway – cars and trucks have to cough up between Rs 5 to Rs 50 extra per trip.
The increase will be implemented along the bypass road Trichy-Karur-Dindigul, Madurai-Thoothukudi highway and Plaza in Dharmapuri and Namakkal District.
C Dhanraj, secretary of the Federation of Owners Lorry State said, “We ask the government unions to stop toll collection for at least six months ahead because of the loss occurring during the lockout.
They once again failed us.
(Hike of) the RS5 to RS15 per trip may seem like a small amount, but (it was extra) Rs 12,000 every month (for traveling Chennai-Salem) and many more for a trip across the country “.
The state government is also let down by the transporter fails to reduce the price of diesel, he said.
Only gasoline prices were reduced.
Thus, increases in toll charges coupled with an increase in fuel rates have reduced profit margins truckers.
Beyond this point, truckers will be forced to increase the level of operations and further, people will suffer, Dhanraj added.
Wholesale traders from Chennai said rising transportation costs have a cascading effect on the wholesale prices of vegetables, fruits and flowers in the city, and fear that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
Chennai is largely dependent on oddanchatram, Park Cridets in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for supply of tomato, onion, brinjal, drumstick, and women.
In addition to essential commodities, the toll charges may also affect the transport of raw materials and finished products to and from the industry in the entire state.