Focus on Rationalising Tax Structure in Transport Sector

Bilateral agreement will be reached between the states in rationalising the tax structure in the transport sector,

Bilateral agreement will be reached between the states in rationalising the tax structure in the transport sector, said State Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh while briefing reporters about the decisions of the 20th meeting of the South India Transport Council (SITCo) - Standing Committee of Transport Ministers of the Southern States - at the Press Club here on Friday. “At present, there is a huge difference in the tax for interstate contract carriage vehicles between Kerala and Karnataka. “Also, Kerala has demanded that Karnataka should revisit levying tax for one year from tourist vehicles entering Karnataka and bring down the duration like in Kerala. “Uniformity of taxes among the southern states would give a boost to the inter-state movement of vehicles,’’ he said. State Transport Secretary V M Gopala Menon and Joint Transport Commissioner Alex Paul were also present at the briefing. Bilateral discussions were held between the Transport Ministers of Kerala and Karnataka as part of the meeting in which various issues between the states were raised. Kerala asked Karnataka to consider the issue of vehicles from Kerala, especially tankers, which are being re-registered in Karnataka without necessary fitness checks once their registration period expires. The state has asked Karnataka to tighten their security norms and ensure the fitness of all the vehicles at the time of registration. The meeting also discussed the distribution of funds as part of Central Government’s Nirbhaya project for women’s safety. The issues of goods vehicles carrying pilgrims and overloading of vehicles to Sabarimala had also come up for discussion. The Transport Commissioner also said that the issue of tax slab differences between the states was also discussed at the meeting. Against the backdrop of two recent road accidents involving Volvo buses in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Council has taken decision to put in place stringent safety norms for luxury buses. The Council also decided to recommend the Central Government to make speed governors mandatory for all kinds of vehicles which are produced since April 1, 2014.