Patiala: Traffic and commerce across northern India are set for major disruptions next month after agrarian and transport unions announced a coordinated border blockade of Himachal Pradesh to protest a controversial entry tax. The coalition will shut down 55 checkpoints along the Punjab and Haryana borders of Himachal Pradesh for four hours on June 1, escalating a regional dispute over transit levies.
Details of the Blockade
The blockade, scheduled from 11 am to 3 pm, is a direct challenge to the Himachal Pradesh government's special road tax and revised entry fees on commercial and tourist vehicles. Surrounding states argue that these levies harm regional tourism and the transport sector, resulting in double taxation for commercial taxis, luxury buses, and freight carriers originating from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
Union Leaders' Statements
Punjab Morcha convener Gaurav Rana and Kirti Kisan Morcha state president Veer Singh Barwa said their agitation will intensify if the hill state refuses to rescind the tax policy. Nihang Sikh organizations have also backed the strike. A farmer union official said during a joint press briefing in Ropar: "While the people of Himachal Pradesh are our brothers, we must take economic measures against their government to force a withdrawal of this unfair levy."
Key Target Zones
Key target zones for the blockade include major arterial links such as the Garha tax point on the Kiratpur Sahib-Manali highway and the Kolanwala Doba point on the Naina Devi route, alongside border crossings in Hoshiarpur and Pathankot. To increase economic pressure on Himachal Pradesh, legal and union advisers have submitted a draft proposal to Punjab ministers, urging the state cabinet to implement a reciprocal tax targeting Himachal's government and commercial vehicles, while exempting local border towns.
Political Reactions
Protest organizers also blamed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for political ambiguity, alleging he failed to clarify his administration's official stance during recent visits to border districts. The unions have urged Himachal Pradesh traders and taxi operators to stage internal protests before May 30, warning of a broader economic boycott if the state government remains obstinate.
The blockade is expected to cause significant traffic jams and economic losses, with unions vowing to continue until their demands are met.
