Patna: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved a govt proposal to impose toll tax called the ‘road user tax (RUT)’ on vehicle owners using state-owned roads. The base rates of the RUT have also been fixed for different categories of vehicles. It has been introduced on the pattern of central toll tax and will operate separately from it.The proposal was moved by the road construction department (RCD). Additional chief secretary of the cabinet secretariat department Arvind Kumar Choudhary said the base rate for cars, vans and light vehicles is Rs1.25 per km. This would effectively translate into Rs125 per 100 km for single-way travel, or Rs250 per 100 km for a round trip.Similarly, the base rate for light commercial vehicles is Rs2 per km, Rs4 per km for buses, trucks and four-axle vehicles, and Rs6 per km for heavy vehicles.“The state govt has introduced the toll tax on the pattern of the toll tax charged by the Centre on national highways. All required infrastructure, including FASTag and other sanctioned electronic devices, will be put in place for smooth collection of the RUT,” Choudhary said, adding that exemptions for designated users and discounted passes for frequent users are also provided.He said the introduction of RUT has become necessary to pool resources for road safety measures.The cabinet also approved a proposal allowing the Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA) to raise Rs25,000 crore through market borrowings from financial institutions on long-term repayment conditions, with state govt guarantee. The funds will be used for land acquisition and creation of infrastructure for industrial areas in the state.Similarly, approval was given for raising Rs21,000 crore by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) and Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) through market borrowings, also with state govt guarantee and long-term repayment provisions. The funds will be used for implementation of projects sanctioned and transferred to them by the RCD.The cabinet also sanctioned permission to Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to issue bonds worth Rs200 crore to raise resources. This is the first such initiative by the PMC in the state. The funds will be used to address challenges arising from road encroachment removal and irregular vending zones.Approval was also given for release of an additional Rs29.56 crore for acquisition of 88.83 acres of land required for development of the airport at Birpur in Supaul district, following a proposal from the district magistrate.The cabinet further approved transfer of 35.19 acres of land in Gaya district for construction of a part of National Highway-2 under Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor. It also approved transfer of land on a 30-year lease at a token amount of Re 1 to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for opening Kendriya Vidyalayas in Purnia, Nalanda, Madhepura, Madhubani and Sheikhpura districts.In addition, the cabinet sanctioned Rs2.50 crore for sending 1,100 devotees from the state on July 20 to participate in the Somnath Swabhiman Parva-1000. The proposal was made by the Centre, and the devotees will stay there for two days.The cabinet approved the plan to separate Vaman Bhagwan Mandir from the campus of the Buxar central jail and also take steps for the development and beautification of the temple area.
