Freight dispute continues in northern India

The dispute over freight rates continues to run after two weeks, forcing the closure of two cement plants in Himachal Pradesh, as talks between truck operators and the management of the Darlaghat (Ambuja Cements) and Barmana (ACC Ltd) plants fail to yield any results. Adani group, which owns both plants, closed the plants on December 14.

Adani management has been asking truck operators to lower freight rates to INR6/t/km, but the latter have refused. While the Bilaspur District Transport Cooperative Society (BDTS) has been charging INR11.41/t/km, truck operators in Darlaghat are charging INR10.58/t/km.

A series of meetings have taken place between the representatives of the Bilaspur and Darlaghat unions and the management of the two cement plants but failed to break the stalemate.

Amid the deadlock, state chief Surjit Thakur, a member of the ruling AAP party, met the protesting truck union members and extended his support.