Thousands of commuters stranded for hours
04 April, 2026 – Ropar : Traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway came to a standstill on Saturday morning after taxi and truck unions from Punjab staged a massive protest against the Himachal Pradesh government’s recent entry tax notification. The protest, which began at 9 am, led to a complete blockade of the highway, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.
Members of various taxi and transport unions gathered on the highway and staged a dharna, announcing that the blockade would continue until 8 pm. They warned of further escalation if their demands were not met, raising slogans against the Himachal Pradesh government and accusing it of discriminatory policies affecting transporters from Punjab and other states.
According to union leaders, the notification exempts taxis and small commercial vehicles registered in Himachal Pradesh from the entry tax, while imposing the levy on similar vehicles from neighbouring states. They argued that the selective exemption had created an uneven playing field and was hurting their livelihoods.
Transporters operating in border areas said the new tax regime had significantly impacted their businesses. “Our earnings have taken a major hit due to this decision. Tourists prefer local Himachal vehicles to avoid extra charges, which is unfair to operators from Punjab,” said a protesting driver.
Protest leaders, including Paramjit Singh Pamma and Gaurav Rana, termed the move “illegal” and contrary to principles of fair trade. They alleged that the policy promotes monopoly by giving undue advantage to Himachal-based operators while penalising those from other states. The leaders demanded immediate withdrawal of the notification and a uniform tax policy for commercial vehicles, regardless of registration.
The protesters also urged the Punjab government to intervene and take up the matter with Himachal Pradesh authorities.
Meanwhile, police and local authorities attempted to manage the situation and divert traffic to alternative routes, though with limited success due to the scale of the blockade.
The protest underscores growing tensions between transporters in neighbouring states over taxation policies, with stakeholders calling for a balanced resolution to prevent further disruption and economic losses.
The Tribune