Shillong, Jun 11: The One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme 2026 of the Transport Department was formally launched by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who holds charge of the department, on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after the launch, Dhar informed that the OTS will be applicable for all commercial vehicles.
“Whatever dues are there till date, people can come and pay as per the formula structured by the government,” Dhar said.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the state government estimates it will receive around Rs 170-180 crore through this scheme.
The government is taking a huge haircut, however, as it is owed around Rs 1,100 crore, with the bulk of this amount to be waived.
The scheme was approved by the state cabinet last month. The penalties are for non-renewal of fitness certificates, motor vehicle tax and goods and passenger tax.
This is common practice for the state government, which last year offered an amnesty to defaulting electricity consumers to settle outstanding bills of Rs 119 crore at a discount. Going back further, 805 taxpayers, some of whom owed the state “hundreds of crores” of rupees, were also given an amnesty in 2020 on their outstanding tax bills.
Dhar told Transport Department officials to make sure that taxes are collected regularly from commercial vehicle owners. He informed that there are 65,000 vehicles who owe motor vehicle tax, 12,642 goods and passenger tax and 57,000 owe penalties for pending fitness certificates.
The scheme is valid until August 31, 2026.
