00:00Now, visitors to Himachal Pradesh would soon have to shout out more at toll barriers located at its entry points
00:06as the state's amended toll policy takes effect from the next fiscal.
00:10The government frames it as a fiscal necessity, but neighbouring states call it burdensome.
00:17Will it deter hill vacations in the summer season?
00:20That's the big question that tourists are asking.
00:23Yes, ma'am.
00:31If you're planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh, brace for higher entry toll tax.
00:40I'm at fund crunch in the state.
00:42The Sukhvinder Sukhu government has issued a notification to revise the entry toll tax.
00:53The state government is drastically hiking fees for private vehicles, primarily for out-of-state and non-HP registered vehicles.
01:03Under the revised list, light motor vehicles like cars, jeeps and vans will now have to shell out Rs. 170
01:12compared to Rs. 70 earlier.
01:15Tractors will have to pay Rs. 100 up from Rs. 70, while heavy goods vehicles will pay Rs. 900 compared
01:24to Rs. 720 earlier.
01:29For private vehicles, the hike exceeds 200%, making this one of the steepest entry toll revisions in recent years.
01:39The entry fees will be collected at the barrier and FASTAG will be mandatory.
01:48The new toll tax has taken a lot of people by surprise, at least the Himachalese.
01:53Now, there may be some respite to the locals who may not have been asked to cuff up that amount,
01:58but it's the tourists who are definitely going to be impacted.
02:01And this is where the worry part is of the tourism industry,
02:05who feel that the tourists may be deterred to come to Himachal Pradesh.
02:10They may be looking at greener and cheaper pastures.
02:16The restructuring is aimed at improving revenue mobilisation amid fiscal pressures.
02:22The entry toll fee hike aims to boost revenue amid mounting liabilities like salary arrears and pensions.
02:30However, the decision has sparked massive outrage from neighbouring states.
02:37Will the toll fee hike affect peak tourist season, which is just a couple of months away?
02:44Bureau Report, India Today.
Comments