THANE:
In a significant move aimed at checking the
rampant evasion of various forms of taxes to
the state treasury, the Thane Regional Transport
Office (RTO) stopped the registration of small
cars as Tourist Vehicles. The
move has ensured that owners of small cars now
pay proper excise as well as other taxes to
the state government.
VN
Shinde, the Assistant RTO informed Thane Plus
that the step was taken after a directive from
the high profile advisory body of state transport
ministry. The body comprises of senior transport
officials, police personnel and a secretary
of the state transport department.
The
body carried out a survey of vehicles having
Tourist permits (T Permits) before coming to
the conclusion that a lot of such permit holders
were simply evading taxes under the guise of
the permit and using the vehicles for their
own private purposes. The body took the decision
and a circular to the effect was sent to the
Thane RTO only two weeks back.
"The
state RTO has been directed by the state not
to issue T permits to motor vehicles having
engine capacity of below 1000 CC with immediate
effect", the Assistant RTO informed. He
added that the existing permits of such vehicles
would not be renewed.
The
ARTO also claimed several major changes were
made in the issue of the T permits to non transport
private vehicles having engine capacity of over
1000 CC. Under the directive the RTO was empowered
to issue T permits in personal names of motor
vehicle owners for motor vehicles having engine
capacity between 1000 and 1200 CC.
The
circular directed that T permits would be issued
only in the name of the tourist agency or any
tourism promoting company for motor vehicles
having engine capacity of more than1200 CC.
so far such permits used to be issued in the
name of individuals also. So far the state RTO
including the Thane unit used to issue and extend
T permits to all private non transport motor
vehicles of any engine capacity under the then
policy of the state government. The state policy
was aimed at giving a boost to the tourism industry
in the country to boost foreign exchange reserves
of the nation.
It
may be noted that motor vehicles possessing
T permits are entitled for huge sops from the
state and central governments. The T permit
vehicle owners are required to pay lesser rates
of state and central excise taxes on their motor
vehicles. The RTO also charges lesser rates
of transport taxes from such vehicle owners.
courtesy:www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
