Punjab News Daily
Chandigarh, April 14

Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday flagged off 25 new Bolero vehicles to strengthen the operational mobility and enforcement capabilities of the Excise and Taxation Department, asserting that the move will significantly enhance field presence, curb tax evasion, and boost revenue generation for the Punjab Government.

Addressing a press, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Today marks a vital step forward for our state administration as we officially flag off 25 new Bolero vehicles to significantly enhance the operational mobility and enforcement capabilities of the Excise and Taxation Department.”

Emphasising the need for stronger on-ground operations and wider geographical reach, the Minister stated, “To ensure maximum geographical coverage and operational efficiency, the Department has procured these 25 Bolero vehicles at a total cost of approximately ₹2.21 crore. These vehicles will be deployed across various districts, enforcement wings, and our critical mobile units.”

Highlighting the crucial role played by the department in strengthening Punjab’s finances, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema noted, “The Excise and Taxation Department plays a crucial role in ensuring strict compliance with tax laws across the State. During the financial year 2025-26, the Department delivered a robust performance, recording healthy growth in tax collections over the previous financial year of 2024-25.”

Detailing the strong revenue growth, he noted, “Overall tax revenue witnessed a strong year-on-year growth. Gross GST collections increased by 11.87% to ₹27,744.05 Crore from ₹24,799.18 Crore, while Net GST collections rose by 12.52% to ₹26,601.12 Crore from ₹23,642.08 Crore. Similarly, our Excise revenue grew by 9.15%, reaching ₹11,736.57 Crore compared to ₹10,752.80 Crore in 2024-25.”