GST a reality, but toll remains

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 7

The goods and services tax (GST) will be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from Friday midnight, but the toll being collected at different entry points will remain intact.

Traders and industrialists of the state, who had been eagerly waiting for the GST to be implemented in, welcomed the step taken by the government, but were disappointed with the government decision of not abolishing the toll at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda.

Rajesh Gupta, Senior Vice-President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “As per the theory of ‘One Nation One Tax’ on which the GST has been introduced, the toll should have been abolished, but the government has taken shield of special status to protect toll in the state.”

“We have taken up this issue with the Finance Minister and he has assured us that he will discuss it with us,” he added.

The state Excise Department levies toll on all vehicles and goods which enters the jurisdiction of Jammu and Kashmir according to its category at four different points, Lakhanpur, Jammu-Tawi railway station, Udhampur railway station, Lower Munda in Kashmir and Upshi in Ladakh.

The Excise Department levies toll on all goods which are divided into five categories. All products that enter the state will be costlier by the rate of toll levied than other parts of the country.

Apart from the toll on goods, the Excise Department also charges toll on each and every vehicle for entry as well as exit from the state.

On the other hand, industrialists will have an edge for industry over the traders as industrial goods are exempted from toll in the state.

“We welcome the implementation of GST in the state, as now industrialists will be able to start production, which was shut for the past 15 days,” said Annil Suri, Chairman, Federation of Industries, J&K.