Vehicle owners to get Telangana shock

A preliminary notification had been issued by the transport department, seeking suggestions and comments on the issue, about 40 days ago.

Already, private vehicles regularly travelling between the two states are required to pay entry taxes. As Hyderabad is an IT hub as well as the capital city, people from not only other districts in the state, but also from other states are working here.

“For example, a person who is from Vizag and is working in Hyderabad, will be required to change his vehicle’s registration apart from paying a lifetime tax and taking a no objection certificate. Due to the bifurcation of the state, all vehicles bought in AP districts that are plying anywhere in Telangana, will need to pay an additional life tax to change the registration number,” said Waseem Memon, RTA activist and founder of Drive Without Borders. Likewise, vehicles bought anywhere within the undivided state, but plying in different districts had earlier only required a clearance certificate. This, however, was a rule largely ignored by vehicle owners as they were plying within the same state.

For people who had not obtained the CCs earlier, it will be problematic. They will now need to pay life time tax, which can be between 5 and 22 per cent depending on the vehicle. Again, vehicle owners in border districts are likely to be at a loss.

“I had bought my vehicle two years ago in Kurnool, although I am in Mahbubnagar district. Kurnool, being more developed than Mahbubnagar, has more vehicle showrooms and as a result I purchased my four-wheeler in Kurnool. Now I am told that once the notification comes, I will again have to pay about Rs 1 lakh as life tax to change the registration number,” said a stressed out Suresh Babu. RTA officials, however, said that the final GO has not been issued on the subject and, therefore, no comments could be made right now.