Hyderabad: Taxi operators demand MV tax exemption

Hyderabad: Telangana State Taxi and Drivers' JAC has demanded that the State government exempt the contract carriage vehicles and maxi cabs from payment of motor vehicle tax as they incurred huge losses due to corona lockdown in the State. The JAC president Shaik Salauddin said that almost all corporate companies including IT firms have clearly told the cab and bus operators that their vehicles are not needed till September 30.

He said that people were not hiring buses to visit temples, marriages or other tourist spots. In such a scenario, the State government should help the industry by giving tax waivers. "Our industry provides employment to nearly 5 to 6 lakh people. While drivers, cleaners, mechanics and other non-technical staff get direct employment, other jobs at petrol pumps, denter, painters, tourism, hotel, etc., were inter-linked with our industry. Therefore, lakhs of jobs will be lost if our industry is not protected," he said.

The JAC chairman alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao never met any representative of the travel industry during the last six years. Even now, when the entire industry is on the verge of collapse, the Chief Minister is not even willing to discuss the problem. He warned that all the operators would intensify protest and park their buses before the RTA offices and district collectorates if the State government refuses to provide MV tax exemption for two quarters.