Centre asks states to remove check posts at state borders

September 13, 2021 48 Views No Comment

NEW DELHI/DIMAPUR, SEP 13 (NPN) : Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked the state governments to remove the check posts at the state borders, stating that after the roll-out of goods and services tax (GST) in July of 2017, there is no longer a need to have regular check posts, reports Economic Times.

The Ministry also emphasised that the online data with respect to vehicles and drivers have been strengthened through the Ministry’s VAHAN and SARATHI portal. In the official letter from the Road Transport Ministry to the various state governments, the ministry asked the states to intimate it about the present status regarding the removal of check posts at the their borders at the earliest.

The Ministry has also overseen the nationwide implementation of the FASTag regime which is backed by a robust technology backbone and has been aimed at ensuring swift movement at toll gates on the massive network of national highways all across the country.

It may be mentioned that the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) had expressed strong resentment against inaction of the state government and its machineries over illegal taxation and also against multiple taxation being imposed in addition to Goods and Services Tax (GST) being paid by traders/businessmen.

As a mark of protest, the trade body has called for a total shutdown of all shops and business establishments in Dimapur on September 16, 2021 against rampant multiple and illegal taxation by various groups as well government agencies, affecting the business community.

DCCI also said that the total shutdown will cover restriction of goods transport entry into Dimapur as against various DMC taxes/fees at check gates collected on GST items.

Despite highlighting the issue in the media, DCCI stated that state government chose to remain silent by not taking any concrete action against illegal and multiple taxation.

Taking serious note of the alarming rise in ‘illegal taxation’ by various groups, crippling the entire business community in the state’s commercial hub, DCCI warned that the business body would be compelled to resort to further/extreme courses of action if the government failed to address the genuine plight of the business community.

It may also be recalled that the Public Action Committee (PAC) had launched a week-long “Operation Check Gate” in September 2019 with volunteers of tribe-affiliates of Naga Council Dimapur against illegal and unabated taxation, in view of the rise in prices of various commodities in the market.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/centre-asks-states-to-remove-check-posts-at-state-borders/240183.html