HYDERABAD: While clay Ganesha idols are in high demand, so are truckers to transport the idols from the several markets dotted across the city to the installation location.
According to official figures, more than one lakh idols are taller than five feet installed in public places, not including idols installed in offices and apartments. Due to the high demand for Ganesh idols, organisers of Ganesh pandals have complained that truckers are charging exorbitant fees to transport the idols. The truckers, for their part, blamed the increased transportation costs on high fuel prices.
Heavy vehicles such as lorries, mini-trucks and smaller vehicles are used to transport idols. There are 70 transport vehicle points within the GHMC limits for transporting idols to pandals and immersion.
"The mini-lorry drivers are charging nearly double what they did in previous years. This year, the vehicles are charging exorbitant prices. We paid `9,000 to transport an idol from Ghode ki Khabar to Jagadgirigutta, which is about 15 kilometres," said Rama Yuvasena's Akash and Dinesh.
According to Nitin Satnaryan Singh, a vendor, the high transportation charges are annual as vehicle owners take advantage of the demand.
"We have to increase transportation costs because the RTA raised taxes on top of the high fuel prices," said Shanawaz Ali Khan, a lorry owner. He stated, "From Dhoolpet to Musheerabad, we charge Rs 8,500 for a five-foot Ganesh idol, which was `5,500 last year."
