Birgunj, July 30

Birgunj Metropolitan City has exceeding its jurisdiction and given contact for vehicle tax collection on the roads and highway.

Local Self Governance Act allows the metropolis to impose vehicle tax on the roads that are in its possession. Birgunj Metropolis, however, has given contract to collect vehicle tax on the roads that it does not own.

The metropolis has given a contract worth around Rs 40 million to Prithvi Construction for vehicle tax collection for the current fiscal. The contract company started collecting tax from the first day of the current fiscal.

Prithvi Construction has set up separate depots to collect tax from Shankaracharya Gate, Gandak and Parwanipur along Tribhuvan Highway, Chhapkaiya, Laxmanwa, Bypass area along Bypass Road and Bahuari and Alau-Bindabasini along the Postal Highway. The metropolis owns only Chhapkaiya road section.

Prithvi Construction’s Manager Keshav Nepal said they were collecting the tax in line with the agreement reached with the metropolis. The contract company has given high priority to Shankaracharya Gate as heavy vehicles from India pass through this route.