Mumbai, March 19: A sustained movement of cargo coupled with shortage of vehicles is likely to keep the freight rates for nine-tonne truck load firm this week, transporters said. The shortage of vehicles have been primarily caused because of holidays including the Hindu festival--Holi--because of which the drivers have returned to their homes. The shortage of vehicles have also been caused because of the year-end phenomenon. "As the financial year (April-March) for most of the companies is drawing close, they want to move their cargo before it so that the tax payments such as excise duty on goods are paid before March 31," a transporter said.Last week, the freight rates to most of the states in northern region increased considerably as the cargo movement in the area was good. "As holi is mostly celebrated in north, the vehicles shortage was also felt more in this areas," a transporter added.
In the north, rates to Jammu rose by Rs 1,000 to Rs 22,000 while rates to Srinagar were firm at Rs 25,000. The rates to Baramullah were up by Rs 800 to Rs 25,000. The rates to Shimla and Shimoga increased by Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 each to Rs 20,000 and Rs 19,000, respectively.
Truck rates from Mumbai to Delhi were up by Rs 500 to Rs 14,500. Consequently, the rates to Haryana and Punjab also increased by Rs 500- 1,000.
Rates from Mumbai to Bihar, however, did not increased but remained firm as previous week's levels. Freight rates to Hazari Bagh were at Rs 22,000. Those to Patna were at Rs 21,500 while rates to Hazipur were at Rs 21,000. A Rs 400-1,500 increase was witnessed in truck hired to Uttar Pradesh. Such a hike came amidst shortage of vehicles to the state.
Rates to Lucknow were up by Rs 400 at Rs 14,000. Rates to Varanasi rose by Rs 1,300 to Rs 15,500 while those to Agra were up by Rs 800 to Rs 14,000. In the western region, Mumbai to Surat were steady at Rs 3,400 while rates to Kandla were at Rs 5,000.
Truck rates to Madhya Pradesh sustained the March first week increase. Rates to Satna were at Rs 11,800 while rates to Indore were at Rs 6,400. Freight rates to Jaipur were, however, increased by Rs 1,000 to Rs 11,000 while those to Bharathpur were up by Rs 900 to Rs 12,500. Truck rates to remaining states remained stable.
Rates within Maharashtra too remained steady.
In the eastern region, the rates to most of the states were steady except to Orissa to which the rates increased by nearly Rs 1,000.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.