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To tackle traffic jams and improve air quality, the Delhi government is considering introducing a congestion tax during peak hours at key entry points into the city. Inspired by cities like London, New York, and Singapore, the tax would apply from 8 am to 10 am and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at 13 major entrances into Delhi. The aim of this tax is to encourage the use of public transport and reduce the number of vehicles on the road during busy times.
The tax would be collected using FASTag technology, which allows for automatic payments without the need for manual collection. This will help avoid adding to traffic problems at these entry points. Two-wheelers and non-polluting vehicles, such as electric vehicles (EVs), would be exempt from the tax. By promoting cleaner forms of transportation, the government hopes to reduce pollution.
Officials stated that the money collected from the congestion tax, along with any fines, would be used to improve public transport and upgrade road infrastructure. The funds would also benefit cyclists and pedestrians, making Delhi's streets safer and more accessible. The main goal is to reduce the number of vehicles coming into the city from nearby towns and decrease the flow of commercial trucks, which contribute to traffic jams and pollution.
This is not the first time Delhi has thought about a congestion tax. In 2018, there was a similar plan to charge vehicles on 21 busy roads in the city, but it never came into action. Before that, in 2009, the then Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, proposed an extra charge on private vehicles to encourage public transport use, but that idea was also dropped.
One of the main challenges for this congestion tax plan is that it is not currently allowed under the Motor Vehicles Act. According to The Times of India, a senior official said that the law would need to be changed before the tax could be put in place. The government plans to use RFID readers and number plate recognition (NPR) cameras to collect the tax, ensuring the process runs smoothly without disrupting traffic.
Major entry points such as DND and New Ashok Nagar are some of the choke points where the congestion tax would be enforced. This initiative aims to reduce traffic jams, lower pollution from idling vehicles, and improve overall urban mobility and environmental health in Delhi.
