In a bid to tackle the increasing road traffic during peak hours, the Delhi government is reportedly planning to introduce a congestion tax. This move is aimed at reducing the volume of vehicles on the city's roads during high-traffic times, according to reports. Shahzad Alam, Special Commissioner of Transport, mentioned that authorities are working on a "congestion pricing" strategy, which would charge drivers using certain roads during peak hours.
For the pilot phase, 13 key locations on Delhi's borders have been identified where this congestion tax could be implemented.
A similar proposal was discussed in 2018 when the then Lt. Governor proposed charging vehicles entering heavily congested areas during peak traffic times. At that time, the government had begun consultations with experts and planned to seek public feedback before implementing the policy. High-traffic areas such as the ITO intersection and Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road were identified as potential spots for the tax.
Additionally, in 2017, a parliamentary panel had also recommended a toll for vehicles using congested roads in Delhi to manage the city's traffic issues.
Several cities globally, such as Singapore, London, and Stockholm, have successfully implemented congestion taxes to manage road traffic and reduce pollution.
Bengaluru is also facing similar challenges. A recent report by Karnataka's planning department, which focused on the state’s economic growth, recommended that authorities in Bengaluru consider a congestion tax to ease traffic during rush hours. The report suggested that revenue generated from the tax could be used to improve public transport, reduce pollution, and enhance overall quality of life.
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