Punjab extends Motor Vehicle Tax waiver till December 31 to bail out transporters from COVID crises 

In a major relief to bus operators who are struggling for survival amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Punjab government on Friday extended a complete waiver on Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT) till December 31. Punjab, Chief Minister Capt.Amarinder Singh ordered 100 per cent waiver on the MVT for all stage carriage, mini and school buses, while deferring payment of arrears of taxes, without interest and penalty, to March 31, 2021.

An official spokesperson of the state government informed that the move will result in total financial benefit to the transport sector to the tune of Rs 100 crore. The Chief Minister also directed the Transport Minister Razia Sultana to discuss and resolve other issues of concern to mini private bus owners by next week.

The decisions and directives were announced by the Chief Minister at a virtual conference with various private transport associations in the state. Besides Razia, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and Transport Secretary K Siva Prasad were also present at the meeting.

Though the transport department had initially suggested waiver of up to 50 per cent of tax till December 31, the Chief Minister, responding to the concerns of transporters, overruled the department to announce total relief. The transporters were earlier provided 100 per cent relief for two months (till September 30) by the state government.

The chief minister took a serious note of the problems faced by the transporters who pointed out that with less than 10 per cent commuters availing the bus service, they were unable to eve meet the cost of diesel to run their vehicles and subsequently decided to announce the complete waiver.

Though the state transport and PRTC, being prime routes, were in demand, private bus operators continued to suffer due to the Covid pandemic, representatives of the transport associations told the Chief Minister.