Reduction of car registration fee demanded

SHILLONG, July 15 – Are cars a necessity or still a luxury item for the common man? The Opposition in Meghalaya thinks cars are a necessity and demanded that the government must reduce car registration fee as it was “affecting the common man.”

The State Government decided to hike car registration fee to eight per cent flat for all four wheeler vehicles as part of its resource mobilisation process. The government’s view is that cars are a luxury item and hence the increase.

Not just hike of car registration fee, Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT) of all vehicles was increased after the government decided to reduce Value Added Tax on LPG, kerosene and diesel following a Central government tax hike on these items.

“Now a person who buys a Maruti car would have to pay at least Rs 17,000 on registration. Anyone buying a car with higher price would pay much higher on registration. This would affect the common man,” Conrad Sangma, the leader of the Opposition from the NCP, said.

He said that without a reliable public mode of transport in the State the “common man” is left with no alterative, but to buy cars. Sangma said, the hike in registration would discourage the common man to buy cars in the State.

The roads in Shillong are clogged and with new vehicles being added each day, traffic snarls are a major concern for the district administration.