VVIP VEHILCES WILL PASS WITHOUT STOPPING, NO POLL TAX

VVIP VEHILCES WILL PASS WITHOUT STOPPING, NO POLL TAX

5-DEC-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-----------------------The Transport Department has taken a major initiative to completely exempt the official vehicles of MPs, MLAs, ministers, and other VVIPs in Bihar from toll tax at FASTag toll plazas. Departmental Minister Shravan Kumar has written to all concerned VVIPs requesting them to get an "Exempted FASTag" installed on their eligible official vehicles and register on the NHAI exemption portal as soon as possible.

The Transport Minister clarified in his letter that according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Government of India, all eligible vehicles must be registered on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) exemption portal within three months. Currently, several VVIPs in the state, including MPs, MLAs, former MLAs, ministers, and the Chief Secretary, have their official vehicles registered on this portal and pass through toll plazas without stopping. The Minister appealed to everyone to upload complete information about their vehicles on the portal and get the exempted FASTag installed within the stipulated time to avoid any inconvenience.

The Transport Minister said that stopping VVIP vehicles at toll plazas often causes delays in important meetings or programs. This arrangement has been made for their convenience and to save their valuable time. The department has also sent separate letters to all concerned, personally requesting them to complete this process quickly so that there is no inconvenience in the future.

These VVIP vehicles are exempt from toll tax:

• Chief Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha

• MPs and MLAs (on official vehicles)

• Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts

• Current and former MLAs and MLCs of the state, all ministers

• Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, former Chief Ministers