Karnataka travel operators seek Dasara tax waiver for tourist vehicles

The Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association has asked the State government to grant a one-month waiver of entry tax, road tax and special permit fees for tourist vehicles arriving from neighbouring States during the Mysuru Dasara season. In a representation to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh and the Transport Commissioner, the association sought the exemption for vehicles from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa and Maharashtra.

Association president Radhakrishna Holla said similar exemptions had been granted in recent years to tourist vehicles travelling to Mysuru during the festival. He urged the government to continue the measure and announce it at the earliest. The association said a waiver would make travel to Karnataka more convenient for visitors and benefit the tourism, transport, hospitality and local business sectors.

Dasara begins in October and attracts large numbers of visitors to Mysuru, according to the report. In previous years, the government waived taxes for tourist vehicles entering Mysuru city and nearby Srirangapatna taluk during the festival. Holla said vehicles registered outside Karnataka and operating under special permits would generally qualify when such a waiver was announced.

The association also pointed to expected visitor interest in Srirangapatna, which includes attractions such as Brindavan Gardens and the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir. The source material does not say whether the government has accepted the request or indicate the proposed dates of the exemption.