Road Safety Cess to Increase Cost of New Vehicles in Telangana from March One
Telangana government introduces Road Safety Cess on new vehicles from March one requiring buyers to pay additional tax between two thousand and ten thousand rupees during registration process.
- Road Safety Cess starts March one.
- New vehicles face higher registration cost.
- Buyers must pay up to ten thousand rupees.
Buying a new vehicle in Telangana is set to become more expensive as the state government rolls out the Road Safety Cess from March one. The additional charge will be collected at the time of vehicle registration, adding to the upfront cost for buyers.
Officials say the Road Safety Cess is aimed at mobilising funds for road safety initiatives across the state. The transport department estimates that the move could generate nearly Rs 270 crore annually to strengthen safety infrastructure and enforcement measures.
Under the new rules, two wheelers including bikes and scooters will attract a cess of Rs 2000. Car owners will have to pay Rs 5000, while heavy non transport vehicles will face a levy of Rs 10000. The tax applies to personal vehicles, goods carriers and passenger autos with seating capacity between four and seven.
Unlike earlier provisions where certain three wheeler goods vehicles paid quarterly road tax, the new system introduces a one time lifetime payment at registration. This means buyers must clear the Road Safety Cess in full before their vehicle is officially registered.
However, vehicles used purely for agricultural purposes such as tractors and trailers are exempt from the cess. Despite the exemption, the overall impact is expected to be significant, particularly for middle class families planning to purchase new vehicles.
With the Road Safety Cess now mandatory, prospective buyers are being advised to factor in the additional amount before making their purchase decision.
