Amarnath Yatra: Road tax slashed for vehicles carrying pilgrims

Road tax slashed for vehicles carrying pilgrims
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lakhanpur (Kathua), June 27
The state government has slashed road tax on all commercial vehicles carrying Amarnath yatris. Earlier, the commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, had to pay Rs 2,000 as road tax per day, but following the government’s decision, Rs 2,000 will be charged for a week.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon said, “We have reduced the road tax from Rs 2,000 per day to Rs 2,000 for one week for all trucks and buses carrying Amarnath pilgrims entering the state. ”

He said there would be no requirement to pay tax even when these vehicles left the state. But this concession would be applicable for one week only. “The road tax concession will also be available to those Amarnath pilgrims, who on their way back visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra ,” added Akhoon.

Meanwhile, officials of the Excise Department at the Lakhanpur toll post have opened a special lane for the vehicles carrying the pilgrims. “An easy passage will be given to the pilgrims, as a special corridor has been opened exclusively for the vehicles carrying them. The pilgrims will have to wait for just two-three minutes to get the toll receipt, as employees have been directed not to keep the yatris waiting,” said BA Saraf, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Kathua.

“The police and the Motor Vehicle Department have also been directed to ensure that the road remains clear for traffic throughout the day and there is no traffic jam near the toll post,” Saraf added.

Courtesy: The Tribune