Truckers meet Transport Secy over hike in road tax

Our Correspondent

Patiala, September 17

A delegation of truck operators today met Sarvjit Singh, Principal Secretary, Transport, over their demand for the rollback of the recently enhanced road tax for trucks. The delegation also apprised the Principal Secretary of their pending demands.

Happy Sandhu, president, All Punjab Truck Operator Union, Punjab, said the state government had flatly refused to withdraw the increased road tax. Sandhu said though the government had refused to withdraw the hike, it had assured the delegation to consider other demands of the union.

“The hike in taxes has affected the truck operators. Earlier, the tax for a six-tyre truck was Rs 1,750 which has now been enhanced to Rs 2,375, the tax has been enhanced to Rs 3,750 from Rs 2,500 for a 10-tyre truck and the tax which was Rs 4,500 for 12-tyre or more has been enhanced to Rs 5,500 per quarter,” Sandhu said.

He said the Principal Secretary had assured them of bringing the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister.

He said the delegation also apprised the Principal Secretary of their other demand regarding a-year-old notification in which overloaded trucks had to pay 10 times more tax on toll barriers.