Una/Shimla/Bilapsur, April 1
Tensions flared along Himachal Pradesh’s borders with Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday after the state’s revised entry tax for vehicles came into force, sparking protests and traffic disruptions at several entry points.
The biggest protest was reported at the Garmoda toll plaza on the Kiratpur-Nerchowk route in Bilaspur district, where residents from neighbouring Punjab blocked traffic for several hours. Demonstrators demanded an exemption for vehicles registered in border districts and questioned why the levy was still being collected despite the state government’s earlier announcement of a rollback.
Protesters said there was confusion over the government’s position after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the assembly that the proposed hike on small passenger vehicles would be withdrawn. They said motorists were still being charged Rs 100 at entry points from Tuesday night.
Many of those taking part in the blockade argued that travellers should not have to pay both toll tax and an additional entry tax on a national highway. They said the two charges amounted to an unfair burden on people who regularly cross the border for work and daily needs.
The protest at Garmoda continued for nearly five hours before officials persuaded demonstrators to lift the blockade. According to local authorities, protesters were assured that their concerns would be taken up with senior officials and that a resolution would be sought within 10 days.
The dispute follows a series of changes to the tax structure for passenger vehicles entering Himachal Pradesh. In February, the state government had announced a steep increase in the levy for smaller passenger vehicles, raising it from Rs 70 to Rs 170. After criticism from commuters and neighbouring areas, the amount was later reduced to Rs 130.
On Tuesday, the chief minister said in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly that the increase for five-seater and 6-to-12-seater passenger vehicles would be rolled back. However, a notification issued later the same evening stated that the rate for passenger vehicles had been reduced from Rs 130 to Rs 100, rather than restored to the earlier Rs 70. That difference appears to have triggered fresh anger at the border.
Mr Sukhu had earlier said that misinformation was being spread about the revised rates and maintained that the increase was modest in most vehicle categories. He also said the government planned to offer relief through special passes for residents living within a 5km radius of the entry barriers.
By Wednesday morning, protests had spread to other border areas, leading to long traffic jams at Kalka-Pinjore, Madhawala-Barotiwala, Baddi and Nalagarh.
In Una district, the Ilaka Bachao Sangharsh Morcha held a protest at the Mehtpur barrier on the Himachal-Punjab border, affecting movement on the Dharamshala-Chandigarh highway. Traffic from Una and Nangal via Santoshgarh was diverted, while congestion was also reported on the Bathu-Bathri stretch.
Some protest leaders warned that the agitation could intensify if the barriers remained in place. They said local people in border areas were already under pressure and suggested they may seek support from residents in Punjab and Haryana to oppose the move more strongly.
Police have been deployed at several sensitive points along the state’s borders, and officials say the administration is monitoring the situation closely and working to restore normal traffic movement.
The controversy has added to the political pressure on the Sukhu government, with the revised entry tax now emerging as a flashpoint not only inside the assembly but also on the ground in Himachal’s border districts.
