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Tahir Qureshi
Tahir Qureshi is a senior sub-editor at India.com, whose primary duties are writing news related to different beats like National. World, Business, and viral. He also breaks stories and then follows t ... Read More
New Delhi: In an effort to address the problems of traffic jams and pollution in the city, the Delhi Government is making arrangements to introduce “congestion charge” on vehicles entering the national capital during peak hours. This scheme will be implemented by using the FASTag service and “automatic number plate recognition” (ANPR) technology for smooth collection. This system will charge vehicles entering Delhi from border areas during the peak hours.
The timings to levy the cost will be between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in the morning and again from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the evening. The main focus will be on 13 major entry points which witness heavy traffic.
A few categories of vehicles are exempted under the new scheme including two-wheelers and electric vehicles. Vehicles that meet BS6 pollution standards may also receive incentives.
Following the examples of major cities like London and Singapore, the Delhi Government has adopted a model where congestion charges have been shown to significantly reduce traffic volumes and enhance air quality. The authorities anticipate that Delhi’s approach will not only decrease vehicular emissions but also encourage a shift towards public transportation and electric vehicles.
Previously, a comparable plan was proposed in 2018, aiming at 21 high-traffic areas throughout the city, encompassing significant locations such as Hauz Khas Metro, the ITO intersection, and the route from Aurobindo Chowk to Andheria More. Nevertheless, this earlier initiative was discontinued owing to logistical hurdles.
The public reaction to the newly introduced congestion tax in Delhi has been varied, with significant concern arising particularly from the middle class. Many believe that the financial responsibility for addressing Delhi’s pollution and traffic problems is being disproportionately imposed on them. Additionally, there is skepticism about the effectiveness of the new congestion charge, considering the unsuccessful outcomes of similar past efforts.
The Delhi government anticipates that, if executed effectively, the congestion tax will mitigate emissions and diminish traffic congestion, thereby addressing some of the city’s environmental issues.
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