Title - Raise in freight charge criticised

The Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises has expressed concern over the raise in railway freight rate from October 1.Association president J. James has said in a press release that the industries here purchase materials from the northern states and send the products made here to other states through train.The units are already hit by the economic slowdown and the raise in prices of diesel and raw materials. The raise in rail freight charges by 15 per cent now would hit the industries. They would not be able to compete with units that had both raw material availability and production capacity in their states, he said.