Switch to uniform tax regime’

New Delhi: The Department of Road Transport and Highways today urged the States to migrate to a uniform level of State taxes for transporters.

Agreeing that this has to be driven by States themselves, Mr Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Department of Road Transport and Highways, said, “At least the officials agree the need to have a uniform tax regime. At present, the tax imposed by different States varies and these taxes are generally the fourth largest revenue earner for States after sales, excise and land registration.”

Another decision was taken in order to have lesser interruptions in national highways.

“We have decided to minimise the number of check-posts that States can put up on the National Highways,” Mr Dutt said. He added that States would devise ways to have common check-posts at inter-State borders.

Several States have different check-posts for forest, excise and sales tax on the National Highways.

Moreover, for setting up check-posts States would now have to take clearance from both the State Chief Commissioners and the concerned Chief Engineer of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).