TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Acting Chief Minister and PWD Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Thursday announced that he would implement a concessional pass system to transporters, entering Goa for economic activity, from July 15 onwards.
Dhavalikar, the number three in the government, and who is currently acting chief minister, in the absence of both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister claimed that the opposition for the toll-fee (entry tax), on the State borders, has fizzled out. He said that government is earning around Rs 8 to 10 lakhs per day on the toll, since its implementation.
“There are no complaints about the toll-fee…everything is going on smoothly. Transporters from neighbouring states would be eligible for concessions through the pass system, entering Goa for economic purpose,” the Minister said.
Dhavalikar, said that the file pertaining to the pass system has been moved to the finance department for approval. “The pass system would be implemented from July 15 onwards,” he said.
The pass system would benefit the transporters from the neighbouring Sindhudurg, Karwar, Belgaum and Kolhapur, who are currently exempted from paying the toll-fee, Dhavalikar said.
The State had, on April 15, imposed the entry tax ranging between Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 depending on the utility of the vehicle for usage of state infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc. The trucks are being charged Rs 1,000 per trip.
The move evoked strong opposition from transporters across the country, who demanded a rollback. The transporters under the banner All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), had halted inter-state transport at the border for some days, and interrupted the supply of essential commodities.
The Manohar Parrikar government had refused to roll back the toll and had assured to come out with a pass system for neighbouring transporters.
