Shimla/Chandigarh, March 31: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is scheduled to meet with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to address the growing friction over revised vehicle entry taxes. The move comes as residents and transporters in Punjab have issued threats to block Himachal-registered vehicles from entering their state in retaliation for the new rates.
The revised tax structure, which was slated to take effect at midnight on March 31, has led to significant concern regarding the potential for a law and order crisis in border regions. Opposition leaders in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha raised a point of order on Monday, stating that the situation could deteriorate rapidly if the scheduled implementation proceeds without a resolution.
Addressing the assembly, BJP MLA Randhir Sharma noted that the atmosphere in the border areas has become increasingly volatile.
“The law and order situation could deteriorate from tomorrow as the new entry tax rates will come into effect starting today midnight,” Sharma affirmed during the session.
The Himachal government has maintained that the policy is an effort to rationalise revenue collection through the integration of FASTag systems. However, officials in Punjab, including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, have previously described the hike as inappropriate and suggested that Punjab may be forced to impose its own reciprocal taxes on vehicles coming from the hill state.
Authorities in both states are now monitoring the border points, where local groups have already begun gathering to protest the increased costs for private and commercial commuters.
