Shimla, Mar 31 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday rolled back the hike in the entry tax on five-seater and 6-12 seater passenger vehicles following protests on the state borders.
The CM told the Vidhan Sabha that some confusion is being deliberately spread over the issue, even though the increase is nominal for most categories. Relief will be provided by issuing passes to people residing within a 5-kilometre radius of the entry points, he added.
Earlier, the toll tax for light motor vehicles, including a car, a jeep and a van, was increased from Rs 70 to Rs 170, and people in the border areas were most affected.
The opposition BJP protested in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday and earlier raised the issue.
Taxi operators and the tourism industry were also unhappy with the toll tax hike, said sources, adding that protests took place in border areas.
People from Punjab had gathered at the border to protest and threatened to block roads starting at midnight on March 31.
Sukhu on Monday maintained that the state government did not impose any new toll tax, but only increased the existing one, which will be rationalised soon. The CM attributed the hike to its integration with the FASTag system on National Highways.