Chandigarh, Feb 20: The Punjab government has announced plans to move the Union Ministry of Transport and pursue legal action up to the Supreme Court following a sharp increase in entry taxes by the Himachal Pradesh administration. The tax for vehicles registered outside the hill state has climbed from 70 to 170 rupees, sparking significant backlash across the regional political spectrum.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains declared that the imposition of these fees on National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) roads is illegal. He maintained that the state government intends to bring the matter directly to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to address the constitutional validity of the levy.
“The entry tax of Himachal on vehicles registered outside the state is illegal,” Bains stated. He asserted that the tax is being imposed on national highways and NHAI toll roads, which he described as unconstitutional. He further noted that the Punjab government would oppose the toll through both political and legal channels to protect residents in border areas.
Opposition voices within Punjab have echoed these concerns, suggesting the move could damage the interstate economy. Ropar MLA Dinesh Chadha remarked that the Himachal government relies heavily on visitors from Punjab and cautioned that the hike could deter tourism. He affirmed that residents in border districts share deep business and kinship ties that are unfairly burdened by the new costs.
Punjab BJP state vice-president Subhash Sharma affirmed that the roads in question are national property developed by the Union Government. He stated that every citizen possesses the right to travel freely on these routes. Sharma declared that the current administration in Himachal has struggled with financial management and is now resorting to petty taxes on the public.
Local traders and social organizations within Himachal’s own border districts have also joined the opposition, writing to the Himachal Pradesh Governor to request the abolition of the tax. Satpal Satti, a Himachal MLA from Una, joined the call for the tax to be withdrawn, as various organizations in Ropar prepare for potential agitations if the decision is not reversed.
