MUMBAI: The state transport department has flagged 475 vehicles registered outside Maharashtra during its special inspection drive aimed at uncovering vehicles used in the state but registered outside to potentially evade higher motor vehicle taxes. The drive, conducted from October 5 to October 17, probed 6,408 vehicles across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik and other places. So far, 12 vehicles have been seized and ₹ 24.09 lakh collected in fines.
Officials suspect that some owners, despite using their vehicles primarily within Maharashtra, may have registered them in other states to take advantage of the lower taxes there. “Explanations will be sought from all those vehicle owners who could not prove their place of residence or work outside Maharashtra. “Where irregularities are found, detailed inquiries will be conducted and reports submitted to the department. The issue also extends to construction equipment.
Officials said that registration in neighbouring states, where taxes are around 3% as opposed to Maharashtra’s approximately 10%, could offer substantial savings.
“We checked the vehicle registration records, toll records and CCTV footage to establish how long the suspected vehicles have been operating in the state,” said an RTO official. What is more serious is that vehicle dealers here are allegedly convincing owners to register them elsewhere to save taxes,” said a senior transport department official. Cranes and excavators, previously taxed according to weight, are now taxed based on their value.
