Toll hike for truckers frozen for a year

P. K. Bhardwaj NEW DELHI: With the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) thrashing out an agreement with the Centre, truckers on Friday called off their three-day-old, country-wide strike, which threatened to derail goods movement. In the 10-hour talks, the truckers’ demands have by and large been met. As for the major demand of rolling back the toll hike, Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt said: “Toll rates applicable prior to December 2007 will be applied henceforth and there will be no increase in toll for one year on government-funded 770 km national highway stretches.” To facilitate a long-term solution on the issue of user-fee rates and related matters, a committee consisting of members from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Department of Road, Transport and Highways, government officials and six... [read full story]