Tribune News Service
Shimla, September 8
Shimla's taxi operators have demanded exemption from token and passenger tax for two years, owing to the loss their businesses have suffered due to Covid-19. "There are around 2,000 registered taxis in and around Shimla. More than 90 per cent are not in a position to pay these taxes. Covid has destroyed our business, and we don't see the situation improving any time soon. So, we have no option but to request the government to waive off our token and passenger tax for two years," said Dinesh Kanwar, secretary of the Joint Taxi Union Welfare Committee, Shimla.
He said the committee members had met the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister some time ago regarding their demands, but had not received encouraging response so far. "We hope the government will understand the stress we are going through for the past two years. If it doesn't come to our rescue, we will be forced to start an agitation," Kanwar said.
He further said that most taxis had done little business in the past two years. "The government should also extend our permit by five years, considering that the past two years have been total waste," he said. Also, there should be a single-window system for them to deposit their taxes and taxi stands and parking lots should be made available to them, the secretary maintained.
Besides, he said, there were several other issues that the taxi operators were facing, including excessive challans under the new Motor Vehicle Act. "The minimum fine is Rs 1,000 now. It's alright to issue such challans for dangerous and irresponsible driving but it can't be justified for offences like idle parking. It's leading to corruption," Kanwar added.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service