Himachal Pradesh Faces Tourist Disruption Amid Controversial Vehicle Fees
Tourism Under Threat in Himachal Pradesh
Munish Sood
Mandi
As Himachal Pradesh experiences a surge in tourist activity during the summer holidays, a new complication has arisen regarding vehicle entry fees. The emergence of a self-proclaimed 'Khalsa Entry Tax' being collected by Nihang Singh groups near the Punjab-Himachal border has introduced fresh challenges for tourists and transport operators heading to the hill state.
This situation unfolds amid ongoing protests, road blockades, and escalating tensions surrounding Himachal Pradesh's policy on entry fees for vehicles from outside the state. With popular tourist spots seeing a significant influx of visitors, any disruptions along the primary routes from Punjab could severely affect travel plans, extend journey times, and confuse tourists unfamiliar with the ongoing dispute.
Reports indicate that Nihang Singh organizations are demanding fees ranging from ₹100 to ₹500 from vehicles near the Morda area, close to Kiratpur Sahib on the Punjab side. These groups have labeled the fee collection as a protest against the state's entry fee policy and have signaled that this practice will persist.
The controversy originated from Himachal Pradesh's decision to raise entry fees for specific vehicle categories at border checkpoints. Although the government later reversed the increase, lowering the fee from ₹170 to ₹100 due to public backlash, discontent among various organizations in Punjab remains.
Tensions escalated on June 2 when groups from Punjab obstructed major highways linking the two states, including routes near Mehatpur in Una district and the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway. These protests disrupted traffic flow and underscored the rising frustration over the issue.
What is particularly concerning is the lack of a robust response from the Punjab government. Critics contend that while unauthorized fee collections are occurring on public roads, the state administration has largely remained passive, allowing the situation to worsen without taking decisive action.
For the tourism sector in Himachal, which relies heavily on visitors from Punjab, the timing could not be worse. Hoteliers, transporters, and tourism stakeholders are anxious that ongoing tensions and reports of multiple charges on travel routes could deter visitors and damage the region's reputation during one of its peak tourism seasons.
With protests and political tensions showing no signs of resolution, tourists traveling to Himachal Pradesh may find themselves entangled in a growing inter-state dispute that extends well beyond the initial entry fee controversy.