Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 7: In a bid to rein in truck owners from charging exorbitant prices to transport minerals, the state government Friday fixed the maximum freight rates for mineral transportation in five districts.
“Today (Friday), we have issued a notification regarding ceiling prices for six-wheeler, 10-wheeler and 12-wheeler goods carriages plying within and outside Angul, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jagatsinghpur districts. The price will come into force with immediate effect,” commerce and transport minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said.
The maximum freight rate for six-wheeler trucks is pegged at Rs 6.4 per tonne per km while the rate for 10-wheeler is Rs 5.10 per tonne per km. Similarly, the ceiling rate for 12-wheelers is Rs 4.10/tonne/km, the
minister added.
“The maximum rates will be charged for transportation of minerals for more than 100 km,” Majhi said.
“Similarly, for transport of minerals within 100 km, the state has fixed two types of maximum rates – a flat Rs 3,500 per day and Rs 2,000 per day along with twice the running cost or whichever is higher,” the transport minister added.
The rates have been fixed after examining the reports that were submitted by the district collectors in this regard, he stated. According to a notification issued by the department, the ceiling price as per running cost for six-wheeler, 10-wheeler and 12-wheeler are Rs 4.56, Rs 3.65 and Rs 2.9 per tonne per km respectively.
“Vehicles should be unloaded within 24 hours of reporting. Any delay thereafter would be compensated by the consigner/consignee,” the notification said.
The mines director instructed the officials to ensure that locally moving vehicles would be facilitated to carry three trips a day so that vehicles cover a minimum distance of 100 km a day, sources said.
