All India Transporters Welfare Association

National President's Massage

Let us fight Corruption on Highways! Do you know that seventy per cent of cargo in India is transported via road? Through it is the most effective mean to carry goods, trucks plying between states with freight cover on an average around 280-340 km in a day. This means more days on road and coverage much below the developed countries. A study conducted by Marketing & Development Research Associates (MDRA) has revealed that around 37 per cent of trucks spend between 5 to 8 days per trip while on inter-state service, 26 per cent take more than 8 days to return to their originating point. Road transport has a share of 4.66 per cent of the GDP and around 10 crores people are associated with the trucking operation business in India. The sector which accounts for 10–20 per cent of the national budget comprises a large share of the economy. Corruption in the transport sector thus leads to major economic impacts. The MDRA study has estimated that trucks that get delayed due to forced stoppages by authorities are dearly costing the national economy. The figure goes up to the extent of Rs. 1130.47 crore per year. Even after the central government’s strict orders, the on-route stoppages including those at checkpoints and entry-points take up to 11 hours in a day. About 60 per cent of these (forced) on road stoppages are exercised by concerned authorities like RTO, Police, forest and excise, weighing and measuring department are for extorting money. Mahendra Arya....