The Transport Department will start collecting lifetime tax on out-of-State vehicles plying in the city.
Addressing presspersons on Wednesday, Transport Commissioner Ramegowda said any out-of-State vehicle plying in Karnataka for more than 30 days can be seized if lifetime tax has not been paid to the Karnataka government. The High Court vacated its stay on the collection of lifetime tax on April 8. The petition had challenged an amendment to the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation Act that makes the tax mandatory.
Speaking on staff shortage, Mr. Ramegowda said that the Transport Department is staring at more than 30 per cent vacancy. At present, 930 out of the sanctioned 2,820 posts are vacant.
Mr. Ramegowda said that the government has given approval for recruitment of 150 inspectors. “We are waiting for a notification from Karnataka Public Service Commission,” he said.
The department has come under fire for failure to enforce noise and air pollution norms.
Mr. Ramegowda said that, following directions from the High Court, the department had “intensified” its crackdown on shrill horns. Since April 1, the department has booked more than 1,517 cases. Compared to that, it had booked just 3,960 cases in the financial year 2013-14.
