Thiruvananthapuram: The Centre has rejected KSRTC’s request for toll tax exemption on national highways. The officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways informed KSRTC authorities that the rule was applicable to all other public sector transport corporations in the country.  No special consideration can be given, they maintained.

At present, the debt-ridden transport corporation in the form of toll taxes is paying up to Rs 1.5 crores per month. The transport corporation was forced to seek exemptions as its toll tax dues started piling up. 

Meanwhile, the toll taxes in general are expected to skyrocket, once the construction of NH 66 is completed. KSRTC also opines that tax exemptions may allow it to find funds for rolling out more buses.       

Once the national highway workers are completed, KSRTC will have the opportunity to expand its inter-city night night services. However, the rising toll taxes may thwart KSRTC’s expansion plans. 

It should be noted that toll taxes will not be levied upon passengers resorting to public modes of transport. This is expected to reduce the use of private vehicles. Similarly, toll taxes are never equated with the bus fares of KSRTC passengers, the corporation bears the entire expense.