Telangana government to levy tax on Andhra Pradesh’s transport vehicles

HYDERABAD: Telangana government has decided to levy entry tax on transport vehicles of Andhra Pradesh entering its territory from April1, triggering uproar from transport operators and opposition parties in both Telangana and Andhra.

The Andhra transport operators cry foul over double taxation on private vehicles, stage carriers and goods carriers and argue that no additional taxes should be levied for at least for 10 years till Hyderabad remains joint capital of two states. Telangana transport minister P Mahender Reddy has turned down the appeals of AP government and opposition parties to revoke its decision, arguing that his state cannot afford to lose revenues.

Telangana is eying at leastRs 200 crore of revenue through levying taxes on transport vehicles from Andhra. "Andhra will be treated on par with other states when it comes to levying entry tax," he said, adding that the state did not levy tax till March 31 while respecting the directives of the common Governor ESL Narasimhan issued earlier.