Hyderabad: BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao blasted the Congress government for imposing a road safety cess on new vehicles, calling it “an anti-people burden.”
KTR, posting on X, said the levy directly targeted poor and middle-class families. He argued that the government must fund safety measures through the budget instead of taxing buyers. “If the Supreme Court ordered safety steps, the government should implement them, not dump the cost on citizens,” he wrote.
KTR road safety cess criticism
The state cabinet approved the transport department’s plan to add a cess on top of life tax and insurance. Officials fixed charges at Rs 2,000 for smaller vehicles and Rs 10,000 for bigger ones. They said dealers will collect the cess at registration and transfer the amount to the department.
KTR accused the government of neglecting safety standards despite budget allocations. He claimed the state created a Rs 270 crore deficit with poor policies and then forced buyers to cover the shortfall. He warned that people will not forgive such measures.
Consumer groups said the levy pushes vehicle costs beyond the reach of many families. Dealers warned that sales, especially of two-wheelers and small cars, may fall. Transport officials confirmed they will soon release detailed guidelines for the cess.
పెరిగిపోతున్న ప్రమాదాల నివారణకు రహదారి భద్రతా చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలని గౌరవ సుప్రీంకోర్టు ఆదేశాలిస్తే వాటిని అమలుచేయాల్సింది పోయి, వాహన కొనుగోలుదారులపై భారం మోపడం ముఖ్యమంత్రి ప్రజావ్యతిరేక వైఖరికి నిదర్శనం
రాష్ట్ర బడ్జెట్ నుంచి రోడ్ సేఫ్టీకి నిధులు కేటాయించి భద్రతా ప్రమాణాలను… pic.twitter.com/OfyMrwwe7N
— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 20, 2025
