Punjab Transport Department revises road tax on tourist vehicles

Chandigarh, August 26

After imposing green tax on vehicles older than 15 years, Punjab Transport Department has reduced the road tax on tourist vehicles registered in the state. At the same time it has increased the same tax on stage carriage buses of other states entering Punjab.

Officials in the Transport Department said for ordinary buses registered in other states, the tax has been increased from Rs 5.50 paise per km to Rs 6 per km. For the HVAC buses and luxury buses registered in other states, the tax has been fixed at Rs 7 per km and Rs 13 per km.

A number of tourist buses registered in other states operate from Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar to states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

For private vehicles older than 15 years and commercial vehicles older than eight years — that are registered in the state, the department has imposed annual tax of Rs 500 on two wheelers and for four wheelers, it varies from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 annually —depending upon the cubic capacity (CC). For commercial vehicles, the tax varies between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000, annually — depending upon the CC. For heavy vehicles, a tax of Rs 2,500 has been levied annually.

Besides, the state has helped small tourist vehicle operators by reducing the road tax. Under the new rates, an ordinary bus will be charged Rs 2,050 per seat, a deluxe non-AC bus Rs 2,650, an AC deluxe bus Rs 4,150, and a super integral bus Rs 5,000 annually. Previously, tourist vehicles were taxed at Rs 7,000 per seat.