Shimla, March 31 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu announced on Tuesday that the entry tax for small passenger vehicles would be reduced to Rs 100 from the earlier Rs 130, in response to protests by people from neighboring states.
"The government has reduced the toll tax rate for passenger vehicles from Rs 130 to Rs 100, keeping in mind the convenience of the general public," a statement issued here said.
The state government has decided to provide concessional passes to all residents within a 5-kilometer radius of any toll barrier. Previously, this facility was only available to residents of Himachal Pradesh, it added.
Earlier in the day, Sukhu told the Vidhan Sabha that some confusion was being deliberately spread about the issue, even though the increase is nominal for most categories. He added that relief would be provided by issuing passes to people residing within a 5-kilometer radius of the entry points.
He announced that a fresh review of the policy had been conducted, and the decision was made to reduce the entry tax rates for small passenger vehicles.
Sukhu mentioned that he had called Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, but the latter did not answer.
Earlier, raising the issue of the entry tax, BJP MLA Randhir Sharma argued that the tax had been hiked excessively. He pointed out that the hike caused immense discontent among people residing across the border who were prepared to launch a protest to demand a reduction in the entry tax.
Prior to the commencement of the House proceedings in the State Legislative Assembly, the opposition BJP also staged a sit-in protest outside the Assembly building to highlight this issue.
Leading the protest, Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur said that protests against the entry tax are taking place not only within Himachal Pradesh but also in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana.
He remarked that such situations arise when decisions are taken hastily, and demanded that the government take immediate action on the issue.
Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania also acknowledged the situation, concurring that people in the Punjab border regions are indeed threatening to block the entry of vehicles from Himachal as a form of protest.
Taxi operators and the tourism industry were also unhappy with the toll tax hike, sources said, adding that protests took place in border areas.
People from Punjab had gathered at the border to protest and threatened to block roads starting at midnight on March 31.
Sukhu had on Monday maintained that the state government did not impose any new toll tax, but only increased the existing one, which will be rationalized soon. The CM attributed the hike to its integration with the FASTag system on National Highways.