Defying state boundaries, residents of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh came together this afternoon at the Mehatpur entry toll barrier in Una district to protest the sharp increase in entry tax on vehicles registered outside the hill state.The unusual show of unity reflected public anger as well as shared social and economic ties between people living on either side of the Punjab-Himachal border.The Himachal Pradesh Government recently raised the entry tax for vehicles registered outside the state from Rs 70 to Rs 170. This has triggered resentment among daily commuters, traders, lawyers, employees and families who cross the border frequently for work, education, healthcare and social obligations.The protesters raised slogans against the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal and appealed for immediate rollback of the hike. From the Punjab side, the protest was led by Congress leader Paramjit Singh Pamma, a member of the Nangal council and former president of the Ropar District Bar Association, and BJP leader Rakesh Pammi. From the Himachal side, the protesters had gathered under the leadership of Una BJP MLA and former state unit president Satpal Satti.In a post on social media, Punjab BJP vice-president Subhash Sharma said political borders should not turn walls for people having lived like a family for generations. “Punjab and Himachal were separated administratively in 1966, but our social, cultural and economic bonds remain the same. Lawyers from Ropar appear in courts in Una, patients from Himachal visit hospitals in Punjab, and students travel daily across the border. Burdening them with such a heavy tax is unfair,” he said, adding the hike would hurt small traders and working-class families the most.Satti echoed similar sentiments, saying the issue went beyond party politics. “This is not a BJP or Congress issue; it is a people’s matter. Himachal Pradesh was granted full statehood in 1971 but even after that, border areas have functioned as shared spaces. The entry tax was a burden on people and should be totally abolished. It will affect tourism, which is the backbone of Himachal’s economy,” he said, assuring protesters that he would take up the matter with the state government.Residents recalled that the entry tax was originally imposed as a nominal charge, meant largely for maintenance and regulation. Over the years, it had been revised upwards, but never by such a large margin at one time, they said. Daily commuters said the hike would translate into thousands of rupees annually, an amount many could not afford.Traders described losing customers due to rising travel costs. The protesters warned of intensify their agitation if the hike was not withdrawn.