Himachal Pradesh entry tax hike: Where are the protests happening on Himachal-Punjab border

Protests against the Himachal Pradesh government’s entry tax brought traffic on key roads connecting Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to a standstill on Wednesday. Demonstrators staged dharnas and blocked vehicles at multiple points, causing major traffic jams and considerable inconvenience for commuters.

The protests primarily targeted the Nangal-Una road near the Mehatpur toll barrier in Himachal Pradesh and the Chandigarh-Manali highway near Kiratpur Sahib, where demonstrators raised slogans against the tax, vowing to continue the blockade until the levy is completely withdrawn.

Confusion over entry tax reduction

Despite the state government’s announcement of a reduction in the entry tax, confusion prevailed at toll barriers. Contractors continued to charge Rs 170 from vehicles registered outside the state, even though an official notification stated the fee had been reduced to Rs 100. Several vehicle owners shared toll slips on social media showing Rs 170 being collected, further fuelling resentment among border residents.

The issue escalated after a late-night notification by the Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday, stating the entry tax had been reduced from Rs 170 to Rs 100. Protesters alleged that the reduction was not being implemented uniformly, with many commuters complaining of overcharging, leading to growing anger and mistrust.

Mehatpur and Una traffic diversions

The ‘Entry Tax Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti’ blocked traffic on the Una-Chandigarh National Highway at the Mehatpur barrier. The Ajouli barrier on the Nangal-Santokhgarh road was also blocked due to protests but later reopened at 12 noon.

Owing to ongoing protests, the Una administration closed the Mehatpur inter-state road for vehicular movement. The administration urged commuters to use alternative arterial routes to ensure smooth traffic flow and avoid inconvenience.

• Traffic from Nangal towards Una diverted via Akola Mor, Santokhgarh, and Nangran DC Chownk.
• Vehicles travelling from Una to Nangal advised to follow the same route.
• Traffic from Himachal Pradesh towards Punjab ahead of Una diverted via Bhatola Chownk, Bhatoli Road, and Bass to Nangal.

Truckers join the protests

A large number of truckers, frustrated over the lack of reduction in entry tax, blocked several inter-state barriers in Nalagarh, including Bagheri and Dheerowal.

Truckers expressed resentment over the levy imposed on them while returning after delivering goods to other states, highlighting that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had announced in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday that rates would be reverted to the previous structure.

Garamore barrier protest on Kiratpur-Manali highway hits public transport

A large-scale protest by various organisations from Punjab was also under way at the Garamore Barrier on Kiratpur-Manali highway in the border area of Himachal and Punjab in Bilaspur district.

The demonstration severely disrupted traffic, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded, including those carrying patients, office-goers, and schoolchildren.

Public transport was also affected, with around 10 buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation stuck in traffic, leaving passengers facing considerable hardship.