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ShareNew Delhi: Transporters are likely to raise freight rates tomorrow after today's hike in diesel and petrol rates, a move traders said would increase prices of fruits and vegetables.
"We will meet tomorrow to take stocks of the situation," All India Motor Transport Congress senior official Deepak Sachdeva said.
Asked if freight rates will rise, he said, "We are forced to increase the price. But a decision will be taken tomorrow by the association."
The government today raised the price of petrol by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 a litre with effect from midnight tonight. After the increase, petrol in Delhi will cost Rs 44.62 a litre and diesel Rs 32.86 a litre.
Potato and Onion Merchant Association (Azadpur) President Trilok Chand Sharma said, "The rise in the prices of fruits and vegetables depend upon the freight rates. Usually, hike in freight rates by transporters exceeds the proportion of increase in fuel prices by the government. I expect vegetable rates to go up."
Inflation rose to minus 1.14 per cent for the week ended June 13 against (-)1.61 per cent in the previous week, driven by higher prices of food items like fruit, vegetables, pulses, cereals and milk.
Freight rates have remained unchanged for the last few days on a decline in the cargo position due to rains in some parts of the country. However, the current move by the government is expected to change the situation.
"Even though the cargo position is not up to the mark, we will have to decide on freight rates in sync with the hike in diesel prices," Sachdeva said.
