The Hindu : Front Page : One-time cess for all motor vehicles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
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One-time cess for all motor vehicles

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Kerala Road Safety Authority decides to make the cess effective from January 1

Vehicles already registered to get a year’s time
Heavy motor vehicles have to pay Rs.250

Thiruvananthapuram: A one-time cess will be levied for all classes of motor vehicles with the constitution of the Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) and the Kerala Road Safety Fund (KRSF) on January 1.

Vehicles to be registered from January 1 will have to pay the cess along with the motor vehicle tax. Vehicles that had already been registered in the State will get a year to remit the cess. Those who pay the motor vehicle tax quarterly will have to pay the cess along with it.

Heavy motor vehicles will have to pay an additional Rs.250 as one-time cess, medium motor vehicles Rs.150, light motor vehicles Rs.100 and two-wheelers Rs.50.

A decision to this effect was taken at the first meeting of the authority chaired by Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas in the capital on Tuesday.

Official sources said the proceeds of the cess levied, along with fines, interests and fees, will be credited to a consolidated fund. After deducting the expenses of collection and recovery, the remaining amount will be transferred to the KRSF.

Besides Mr. Thomas, who is chairman of the Authority, Public Works Minister Mons Joseph, who is vice-chairman, and other members attended the meeting. Chief Secretary P.J. Thomas is the head of the executive committee and State Transport Commissioner Ramesh Chandrabhanu ex officio Road Safety Commissioner.

The meeting decided to formulate rules as per the Kerala Road Safety Authority Act 2007 before January 1. The Authority’s headquarters will be in Thiruvananthapuram. Official sources said that efforts to find a suitable building for housing the KRSA and to post staff had already begun.

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the KRSA and the KRSF at a function at Town Hall in Thrissur on January 1. The logo of the KRSA will be released and observance of Road Safety Week will be kicked off on the occasion.

The KRSA will advise the government on road safety policies, enforce road safety standards and procedures, formulate schemes, projects and programmes relating to road safety, and coordinate with agencies and the departments concerned. The KRSF will be utilised for road safety programmes, awareness programmes, purchase of equipment, funding of approved studies on projects and research regarding road safety and trauma care programmes, among other things.

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