Kashmir RTO seeks higher tax for 10-year-old vehicles

Srinagar, Aug 15: The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir has proposed an environmental cess on second-hand vehicles over 10 years old.

This proposal, submitted to the Transport Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir, aims to allegedly mitigate the “rising environmental and infrastructural issues caused by these older vehicles.”

The RTO’s letter highlights the significant increase in older, polluting vehicles entering Jammu and Kashmir, particularly affecting traffic and parking in Srinagar and Jammu, where congestion has become critical, as per locals news agency Kashmir News Observer.

These vehicles, “often sold at lower prices as they near the end of their operational life, contribute heavily to pollution and strain the region’s infrastructure,” RTO said.

The current road usage tax of 9% is applied equally to both new and used vehicles, which the RTO argues is inadequate to discourage the registration of older, high-emission vehicles.

The proposed cess aims to reduce the number of such vehicles, generate additional revenue, and fund improvements to public infrastructure, including transport and parking facilities.

Additionally, the RTO recommends implementing a cap on the operational life of commercial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir to align with neighboring states’ standards.