Protesters from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday blocked National Highway 503 at the Mehatpur inter-state barrier in Una district for nearly three hours, opposing the enhanced entry tax on vehicles imposed by the Himachal Pradesh government from April 1.
The blockade began around 9 am, with demonstrators under the banner of the Ilaka Bachao Sangharsh Morcha sitting on the highway and raising slogans against the state government. They termed the levy "illegal", arguing that no state government has the authority to impose entry tax on national highways.
Morcha activists said the move has disproportionately affected residents living in border areas. They pointed out that people frequently cross state lines for business, employment, family ties and daily purchases, making the tax an added burden on routine movement.
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While asserting that their agitation would continue until the hike is withdrawn, the protesters said they intend to escalate their campaign in a phased manner. They announced plans to greet Himachal ministers at inter-state barriers with black flags and warned that if the government fails to revoke the decision within 15 to 20 days, they would call for a wider boycott of Himachal Pradesh as a tourist destination during the peak summer season.
The blockade disrupted vehicular movement, forcing authorities to divert buses headed from Una to Baddi and Nalagarh via alternate routes. Commuters were advised to use the Bhatoli-Bass link road towards Nangal, while those entering Una from Punjab were directed to bypass Mehatpur and use the Ajouli barrier.
Himachal Pradesh has 33 inter-state entry barriers, 11 of them located in Una district along the borders with Punjab's Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar districts. However, the protest remained largely confined to Mehatpur, with only brief disruption reported at Ajouli.