Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 11: Federation of Automobile Dealership Associations (FADA)-Jammu Chapter, led by its chairperson, Sanjay Aggarwal, met with G Prasanna Ramaswamy, Secretary, Transport Department, to discuss various concerns regarding the automobile trade sector.
FADA is a prominent national body representing the Indian automobile retail industry, with a vast network of dealerships and associations across the country.
As per a statement, Sanjay Aggarwal was accompanied by Sahil Mahajan and Manik Batra, Regional Directors of the FADA, and Kanav Aggarwal, during the meeting.
During the meeting, Sanjay Aggarwal commended the Transport Department’s efforts in digitizing automobile trade processes, such as introducing online services for trade certificates, vehicle registration, and online licensing.
“These initiatives have streamlined operations within the industry,” he said in the meeting.
However, he also highlighted several key concerns. One major issue discussed was the influx of vehicles from other states being sold in Jammu & Kashmir through unorganized channels.
Sanjay Aggarwal pointed out that the registration data indicated around 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles are purchased from outside the state annually.
In order to check the malpractices, he suggested adopting measures like states of Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which levy a differential tax rate on out-of-state vehicle purchases to curb this practice.
Additionally, the exemption of road tax for hybrid vehicles was raised, citing Chandigarh’s recent policy change in this regard.
It was suggested that Jammu & Kashmir consider implementing a similar policy to promote environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles.
Sanjay Aggarwal also noted the absence of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) availability in Jammu & Kashmir compared to other regions of India.
He proposed the installation of CNG petrol pumps, emphasizing the benefits of CNG as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and safer alternative to traditional fuels.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with a commitment from FADA to address these concerns and develop actionable plans for the advancement of the automobile trade sector.
Secretary G Prasanna Ramaswamy assured the FADA-Jammu Chapter that the Transport Department would carefully consider these matters and work towards their resolution as soon as possible.
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