Old trucks' phaseout may jack up commodity prices

 The HC wants 15-year-old HCVs to be phased out immediately. It has also told vehicle owners to stop plying 8 to 14-year-old HCVs from December 31 or convert them to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered ones.

 However, transporters say that there are no proper facilities in India to equip vehicles with CNG or LPG engines.

 A Mumbai-based transporter said the court has not considered the suggestions of an expert committee on modification/upgradation of old vehicles.

 Transport operators will have no option but to buy a new HCV for around Rs 10,00,000 and not to talk of the interest burden and other operative cost, he said.

 In Mumbai on an average HCVs transport around 20,000 metric tonne of goods.

 The supply of essential commodities includes fruits, vegetables and food grain from interior parts of Maharashtra and other parts of the country into various wholesale markets and stock yards.

 Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Bharat Damani, president, Carting Agents