Truck escort fees will increase at PCMC.

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) standing committee approved a hike in the escort fees for goods trucks passing through the civic limits on Tuesday, from Rs 20 to Rs 200. However, the increase will not take effect until it is approved by the PCMC general body. Sahibrao Gaikwad, assistant commissioner, PCMC, said the increase would increase the municipal corporation’s revenue by nearly Rs 55 crore. Our main goal is to maintain comparable escort fees within the PCMC and PMC boundaries. Additionally, we will experience a loss in octroi income after the octroi rationalisation goes into force. The standing committee members claimed the PCMC is losing up to Rs 125 crore due to octroi evasion and deferred a proposal to increase the industrial licence fees. However, Usha Waghire, chairperson of the standing committee, PCMC, said the committee has approved development projects at a total expenditure of Rs 4.73 crore. Resolutions to improve the water quality and sanitation systems were also approved.