SHILLONG: The State Government has increased the motor vehicle tax and composite tax rates by four to five times in a hush-hush manner, pushing a huge financial burden on vehicle owners and operators.
The annual road tax for passenger taxi carrying four to six persons (three wheelers) has been increased to Rs 1800 from the previous Rs 420, according to a an official notification issued on June 1.
For the local taxis, the annual road tax has been hiked from Rs 460 to Rs 2600, and if paid quarterly, the installment will be Rs 700.
The road tax for the tourist taxis has been raised to Rs 4800 from Rs 1440.
For vehicles with passenger capacity of seven to 12, the road tax has been fixed at Rs 5700 raising it from Rs 3000.
Even ambulances are not spared. The road tax for the life saving vehicles has been fixed at Rs 2500 while ambulances had to pay only Rs 200 as registration fees before the revision.
Meanwhile, the one-time tax for two and three wheelers has also been increased by a huge margin.
For vehicles with less than 65 kg un-laden weight, the one-time tax has been raised to Rs 1400 from Rs 400.
The one-time tax for vehicles with 65 kg to 90 kg un-laden weight has been hiked from Rs 600 to Rs 2300 while for vehicles between 90 kg to 135 kg category the tax has been raised from Rs 800 to Rs 3800.
For three wheelers, the one time tax has been raised to Rs 3200 from Rs 800 while an additional one time tax of Rs 800 has been imposed for trailers and side cars attached with two and three wheelers.
The Government effected the such unprecedented hike in vehicular tax without making any announcement through advertisements in print or electronic media which is widely seen as a move to avoid public anger.
Some vehicle owners, who went to register their vehicles at the District Transport Office (DTO) here on Friday, were in a state of shock after learning the new rates, leading to the revelation.
The vehicle owners were allowed to pay the taxes as well as the registration fees as per the old rates till Thursday even though the official notification was issued on June 1.
However, the old notification was seen on the DTO notice board till Friday.
“We were never informed about this revision till Thursday. How can they suddenly raise the taxes,” agitated vehicle owners told reporters on Friday.
“Four to five times hike in the tax is unacceptable. We demand a review of the Government decision,” they said.