Chandigarh: Traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali national highway came to a standstill on Saturday morning after taxi and truck unions from Punjab staged a massive protest against the Himachal Pradesh government’s recent entry tax notification.
The protest began around 9 am, with hundreds of transporters assembling on the highway and sitting on a dharna, leading to a complete blockade of the key route connecting Punjab to Himachal Pradesh. Thousands of commuters remained stranded for hours as long queues of vehicles built up on both sides of the highway.
The disruption severely impacted tourists and daily travellers heading towards hill stations, with many forced to halt their journeys midway. Protesters announced that the blockade would continue till 8 pm and warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands were not met.
Raising slogans against the Himachal Pradesh government, the unions accused it of adopting discriminatory policies that adversely affect transporters from Punjab and other neighbouring states.
According to union leaders, the new notification exempts taxis and small commercial vehicles registered in Himachal Pradesh from entry tax, while vehicles from other states are required to pay the levy. Transporters, especially those operating in border areas, said the move has significantly hit their business.
A protesting driver said that tourists are now preferring local Himachal vehicles to avoid additional charges, putting operators from Punjab at a disadvantage.
Leaders of the protest front, including Paramjit Singh Pamma and Gaurav Rana, termed the decision “illegal” and against the principles of fair trade. They alleged that the policy promotes monopoly by favouring local operators at the cost of those from other states.
The unions have demanded immediate withdrawal of the notification and implementation of a uniform tax policy for all commercial vehicles, irrespective of their state of registration.
They also urged the Punjab government to intervene in the matter. Meanwhile, authorities were seen attempting to manage the situation and divert traffic through alternative routes.
