The state transport ministers today passed a resolution to implement the new single national permit system for goods carriers, which will allow trucks to ply across the country by paying an annual composite fee of Rs 15,000 per vehicle, a Union Transport Ministry official said.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the transport development council, headed by road and highways minister Kamal Nath, here today.
"We have accepted the recommendation of the empowered committee of the state transport ministers to implement the new composite fee regime of Rs 15,000 per annum per truck for a national permit, authorising the permit holder to operate throughout the country," the agreement said.
At present, truckers pay Rs 5,000 to the home state for a licence permit and another Rs 15,000 for operating in three other states, which results in a total permit fee of Rs 20,000 per annum for every vehicle.
The official said the states authorised the Union ministry to create a common national permit account with the SBI for collecting the new composite fee and subsequent disbursement among states and Union Territories.
"We have agreed to amend the relevant taxation laws of states/UTs to bring down the composite fee on national permit to nil...We have agreed to the principle of devolution of the composite fee, as per the recommendation made by the empowered committee of state transport ministers," the agreement said.
Implementation of the new permit system was one of the major demands of the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which had proceeded on strike twice last year for non fulfilment of the demand.
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The Centre had signed an agreement with the AIMTC on February 23, 2009 for implementing the new national permit scheme before January 1, 2010 but despite the Union minister's assurance, the government could not notify it following which the AIMTC had threatened to take 75 lakh trucks off road.
Earlier, a committee under the chairmanship of the transport secretary was constituted to look into the issue relating to the national permit system and rationalisation of motor vehicle taxes. The committee prepared a draft report recommending collection of Rs 15,000 as composite fee per vehicle, which could be then redistributed amongst the states on the basis of an agreed formula.