Telangana to levy entry tax on Andhra Pradesh transport vehicles

HYDERABAD: Telangana has decided to levy entry tax on Andhra Pradesh transport vehicles entering its territory from April 1, triggering uproar from various quarters including transport operators and opposition parties.

Andhra transport operators cry foul over double taxation on private vehicles, stage carriers and goods carriers and argue that no additional taxes be levied for at least ten years, until Hyderabad remains the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The AP government and Opposition parties have appealed to the Telangana government to revoke its decision but Telangana Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy turned down the appeals, arguing that his state cannot afford to lose revenue. Telangana is said to be looking at reaping Rs 200 crore of revenue in at least through levying taxes on transport vehicles from Andhra.

"Andhra will be treated on par with other states when it comes to levying entry tax," said Reddy, adding that the state did not levy tax till March 31 while respecting the directives of ESL Narasimhan, who is the common governor for both states.

Appealing the Telangana government to reconsider its decision, Sidda Raghava Rao, Andhra Pradesh's transport minister, said such a move would hurt transport operators and lead to additional burden on consum ers.

"People of Andhra will need to travel to Hyderabad, the com mon capital for ten years, on a regular basis and lev ying entry tax will be a burden on them. If Andhra decides on similar move, then goods transportation from Telangana to seaports of Andhra such as Krishnapatnam and Kakinada will turn expensive." While condemning the Telangana government's decision, BJP's Telangana state President, G Kishan Reddy, said the move would ultimately affect the common man.