Chandigarh, March 11: The Punjab Government has initiated a review of its taxation policy regarding inter-state vehicle movement following a steep escalation in entry taxes by Himachal Pradesh. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema declared in the Assembly that commercial vehicles, including buses and heavy goods carriers, face fees as high as ₹600 to ₹900 under the new Himachal Tolls Act provisions. He asserted that these steep costs are unacceptable for Punjab’s transport sector and require a firm reciprocal response.
The Minister maintained that the Congress-led government in the hill state is imposing these taxes to address its own financial challenges, but it should not be at the expense of Punjab’s visitors and residents. Cheema declared that the Punjab Government is looking into the possibility of empowering border-area municipal councils to levy similar charges on Himachal-registered vehicles. He affirmed that this measure is being discussed to create a level playing field and to address the growing outrage among transporters who frequent the border routes.
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted that the final decision will be taken after a thorough evaluation of the legal implications. He declared that the Government of Punjab, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to ensuring that the state’s residents are not unfairly taxed while traveling. The Minister affirmed that the state will take every necessary step to ensure administrative fairness and to protect the financial well-being of the hardworking people of Punjab’s border districts.
