Nearly 19 lakh trucks parked due to rising diesel prices:Freight increased by up to 15%, food items may become expensive

Due to the high cost of diesel, transporters have started parking their trucks. The situation is such that about 20% of the 9.5 million trucks across the country, which is 1.9 million trucks, have been taken off the roads. This claim has been made in a report by The Economic Times. According to the report, due to the shortage of diesel and high prices, transport companies have also increased freight charges. Freight charges have increased by 10 to 15% on major routes like West to North India. The prices for local transport up to 30km have increased even more. This will directly affect the common public’s pockets, as the prices of fruits, vegetables, and groceries may increase in the coming days. Prices increased by up to ₹8 in 11 days, and long queues formed at petrol pumps Due to rising crude oil prices, government oil companies have increased petrol and diesel prices 4 times in the last 11 days, bringing the total increase to ₹7.5 to ₹8 per liter. Long queues of trucks are being seen at petrol pumps on national highways. Troubles for small operators increased More than 70% of the truck operators in India’s transport sector are small operators. According to Harish Sabharwal, National President of the All India Motor Transport Congress, diesel alone accounts for 40-45% of the total cost of running a truck. Small operators are no longer able to bear the burden of the phased increase in oil prices. Many pumps have stopped giving fuel on credit, leading to a working capital crisis. Increased rush at pumps due to higher prices of industrial diesel There are two types of diesel prices in the market – bulk and retail. Bulk diesel has become ₹40-42 per liter more expensive than retail. Recently, the government had increased the price of industrial diesel by ₹22. In such a situation, large institutions that previously bought oil in bulk are now crowding the petrol pumps meant for the general public. As a result, supply at retail outlets is falling short, and trucks have to wait 6 to 8 hours. Oil companies said – shortage is only local Government companies like Indian Oil (IOC) have denied the talk of an oil shortage across the country. Companies say that petrol sales have increased by 14% and diesel by 18%. According to them, the shortage is only in some selected areas and is temporary. With the onset of the monsoon, demand from agriculture and tourism will decrease, which is expected to improve the situation.