Chandigarh: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced the rollback of the recent hike in vehicle entry tax in border areas following protests by locals and transport unions.
As per the revised rates, vehicles with up to five seats will now pay ₹70, while those with 6–12 seats will continue to pay ₹110 as per earlier rates.
The government had earlier proposed increasing the tax to ₹130 for both categories, which triggered widespread opposition.
Residents living within a 5-km radius of toll points will be issued special passes to ease their movement.
The Chief Minister said there was deliberate confusion being spread over the issue and maintained that the hike was minimal for most vehicle categories. However, he added that the decision to roll back was taken keeping public sentiment in mind.
The move is expected to benefit daily commuters and traders from neighbouring states, especially Punjab and Haryana, who frequently travel to Himachal Pradesh.
The proposed hike had raised concerns about its impact on tourism and transportation of goods in border areas, leading to protests by taxi unions and local businesses.
Sukhu assured that the government is committed to protecting public interest and said the process to issue special passes for local residents will begin soon to prevent any additional financial burden.
