Himachal Revises Entry Fee Structure, Offers Concessions to Nearby Residents

The Himachal Pradesh government has taken a U-turn on entry tax rates in the state following protests in Punjab and Haryana. The state has now revised the entry tax structure, providing relief to vehicle owners and residents in border areas. According to a circular issued late Tuesday evening by the Excise and Taxation Department, the entry tax for all passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats has been reduced to ₹100. In addition, the government has decided to issue concessional passes to residents living within a five-kilometre radius of toll barriers. Notably, earlier only Himachal residents were eligible for such passes, but now residents from neighbouring states residing near toll barriers will also be able to avail this सुविधा. This move is expected to provide relief to people from neighbouring states who were facing high toll charges. Himachal Pradesh shares its borders with Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. Residents living within five kilometres of border toll points in these states will now be eligible for concessional passes. The government has also extended exemptions to Himachal-registered light motor vehicle (LMV) commercial vehicles, including taxis. About a month ago, the state government had increased the entry fee for five-seater vehicles from ₹70 to ₹170, and for vehicles with six to 12 seats from ₹110 to ₹130. This decision triggered strong protests in Punjab and Haryana. In response, the Punjab government had indicated that it might impose entry fees on vehicles coming from Himachal, leading to a tense situation between the two states. Further escalating the matter, residents in Punjab had warned of closing entry points into Himachal from midnight of March 31. The issue also echoed in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday, where BJP legislators staged protests outside the Assembly over the matter. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the House that the entry fee would be reduced. Orders were issued later in the evening. While the Chief Minister had stated in the Assembly that the fee for five-seater vehicles would be reduced from ₹170 to ₹70 and for six to 12-seater vehicles from ₹130 to ₹110, the department ultimately fixed a uniform rate of ₹100. The revised rates came into effect from midnight last night.