Goa govt tables bill for relief in tax on inter-state buses

Goa government today introduced a bill in the legislative Assembly seeking to grant relief in tax on inter-state passenger buses.
Once passed, the Goa Motor Vehicles (Taxation on passengers and goods) (Amendment) Bill, 2013 would incur loss of Rs 2.5 crore to the state exchequer annually.
The bill seeks to reverse the earlier amendment to the bill seeking hike in the passenger tax. The new tax structure had come into effect from August 1, 2013.
"The amendment proposed in the bill would result in loss of revenue generation to the extent of Rs 2.5 crore per annum approximately," said state Transport Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar who tabled the bill.

All the buses registered in the state and even outside, plying inter-state, would be granted the relief under the legislation.
The bill also seeks to repeal the Goa Motor Vehicles (Taxation and Goods) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 promulgated by the Governor of Goa on August 23, 2013.
The bill seeks to charge the contract carriage buses Rs 75 per seat per month for vehicles registered in Goa, and Rs 300 per seat per month for those registered outside.
For the buses under sleeper category, Rs 200 per passenger per month would be charged whereas mini buses will have to play Rs 800 per seat per month.