Transporters strip common man of low fuel rate benefits: BJP

Mumbai, Feb 20: Maharashtra BJP on Friday said goods and private passenger transporters were not passing on the benefit of reduced fuel rates to the common man and asked the state government to intervene in the matter.

In a letter to State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, state BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari said despite the diesel prices coming down from Rs 62.21 in May 2014 to Rs 52 on February 15, 2015, the transporters have not passed on the benefit to the common man and are continuing to rake profits.

He said if the diesel/petrol rates go up by even 10 to 20 paise, the transporters hold the public to ransom and demand hike in their tariffs.

"But they don't show the sincerity to reduce the tariffs if the diesel and petrol rates come down," he said.

Bhandari said in the last few months, even CNG rates have come down and if the transporters had reduced their fares, the prices of milk and other essential supplies would have also come down.

PTI