Shimla/Bilapsur/Una: Tension prevailed at Himachal Pradesh’s borders with Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday after the revised entry tax for vehicles came into effect, triggering protests and traffic disruptions at multiple points.
Angry residents from Punjab staged a “chaka jam” at the Garmoda toll on the Kirathpur-Nerchowk road in Bilaspur district in the morning, demanding exemption for vehicles registered in border districts.
The protesters questioned the continuation of the entry tax despite Chief Minsiter Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announcing a rollback and argued that there cannot be two levies on national highways. “Himachal residents are our brothers, and we have no fight with them, but Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu should clarify that when the rollback was announced on entry tax on small passenger vehicles, then why a receipt of Rs 100 is being given on entry since last night?” the protestors said.
“There cannot be two taxes on a national highway. When we are paying toll tax, there is no point in an entry tax,” they argued and refused to open the blockade. Officials, however, assured protestors that their issue would be taken up with higher authorities and sought 10-days to resolve the issue, following which the blockade was lifted after almost five hours and vehicular traffic resumed.