Goa hikes entry tax for vehicles

The Goa government is all set to impose an additional entry tax on vehicles entering the State through National Highway 17 (Panaji-Mangalore), 17 B and 4 A.

A checkpost has been established near Polem bordering Goa. Tax collection is likely to begin from April 15.

Boards displaying details of the tax slab have been installed by the Goa’s Public Works Department near Polem, Molem and Keri that border Karnataka, and near Dhargal, Kiranapani and Dodamarg bordering Maharashtra.

The Goa government has decided to charge Rs 100 for three-wheelers, Rs 250 for four-wheelers, Rs 500 for six-wheelers and Rs 1,000 on vehicles with more than six wheels.

However, if vehicles that enter Goa return within four hours of their entry into the State, the tax collected will be reimbursed.

This concession by the Goa government can be seen as an attempt to quell protest among owners of vehicles from others states over the additional entry tax. Besides, a majority of customers at bars and restaurants and petrol bunks bordering Goa are from Karnataka.

A local NHAI official said: “A state government is not empowered to collect tax from vehicles plying on the national highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) also will not allow it. Moreover, tax can be collected from vehicles plying on newly constructed bridges and four-lane roads.”

At a time when there has been a hike in fuel prices, an additional entry tax can be construed as an added burden, said Santosh Bandekar, president of the Taxi Owners’ Association.