Centre may bring down truck national permit cost to Rs 15,000

NEW DELHI: Truckers may soon be allowed to enter any state by just paying a nominal composite annual fee. State governments have agreed to consider the Centre���s proposal to put up a new permit regime of Rs 15,000 per truck annually allowing them to move freely anywhere in the country. The proposed move would enhance mobility of goods and also cut down the operating cost of transporters.

At present, a transporter has to compulsorily pay Rs 20,000 annually which allows him access to his home state and three neighbouring states. For each additional state, he has to pay Rs 5,000. Permit costs would, therefore, come down drastically, if the composite fee regime is introduced.

���States would consider the new composite fee regime of Rs 15,000 per annum per truck authorising operations throughout the country. The states would take necessary measures to shift to e-payment system of collection of composite fee,��� a ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) statement said.

Transport organisations such as All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) have been demanding seamless movement of vehicles.

���Free movement of goods is necessary to create a unified market. The proposed move would increase the availability of vehicles and improve efficiency. At present vehicles enter states by taking temporary permits which leads to corruption (as transporters often have to give bribes at entry points),��� Transport Corporation of India (TCI) executive director Vineet Aggarwal said.

Mr Aggarwal, however, ruled out any cut in tariff as a result of lower charge for national permit. ���It would not reduce the overall operating cost of a truck significantly. The impact would be marginal,��� he said adding that the new regime would bring down many indirect cost such as paperwork.