Relief for Truckers as Himachal Slashes Entry Tax
The Himachal Pradesh Taxes and Excise Department has announced a reduction in entry tax for truckers, bringing much-needed relief to transporters and easing tensions in the state’s industrial clusters.
According to the revised notification, a 12-seater passenger vehicle will now pay ₹100 instead of ₹130. Trucks with up to two axles and a gross vehicle weight between 12,000 kg and 25,000 kg will see their levy drop from ₹570 to ₹320, while three-axle vehicles will pay ₹570, down from ₹600.
The move comes after tempo, three-wheeler, and pick-up owners staged a protest, halting traffic in the Baddi-Barotiwala industrial belt. They had issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding revised rates, warning of further disruption if their concerns were ignored.
To calm discontent, the government has also extended concessional passes to residents of neighboring states living within a 5 km radius, reducing their tax from ₹130 to ₹100. Toll licensees have been instructed to implement the new rates immediately to avoid confusion, especially after allegations of overcharging surfaced earlier this week.
While the revision has eased tensions, officials now face the challenge of ensuring smooth traffic flow at inter-state barriers in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Parwanoo. Stakeholders hope the new rates will restore normalcy and prevent further stand-offs between transporters and authorities.
