Metro life: Fee ride to nerve spots
State govts are planning to levy ‘core area charge’ for different cities to reduce traffic congestion.
By Rajat Guha & MK Venu, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The urban development ministry has proposed that state governments should levy ‘core area charge’ for different cities to reduce traffic congestion in the city’s nerve centre. So you may have to pay a special levy to drive into Connaught Circus, the heart of the capital.
Not this alone, parking charges in such prime locations within the city will also command a premium. The Delhi government and some other states are considering this proposal to decongest several key cities. Mumbai and Bangalore have also been asked to follow the same model for their core areas. This practice is followed in some European cities already.
The Centre could coerce major metropolitan centres to levy this charge by linking it to the Urban Renewal Mission Fund transfer to the States. According to government officials, the important areas in major metropolitan cities like Cannaught Place in Delhi, MG Road in Bangalore and Colaba and Andheri in Mumbai have over the years been facing chaotic traffic and attendant environment problems.
The Delhi government is planning to substantially increase the parking fee and entrance charge in such core areas to convert them into traffic-free zones. As a respite to the commuters, they could take shuttle service from nearby designated areas.
“We are considering hiking the parking fees in Cannuaght Place to discourage excess traffic. The matter would be soon discussed in the state cabinet meeting in a while,” a Delhi government official said.
“In other parts of the capital, public land has been used by malls and shopping complexes for parking facilities. The companies should be taxed for using state-owned land,” he added. The urban development ministry would soon call a meeting with other states for discussing the proposal at length.
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“The proposal would form part of the National Urban Transport Policy, after it gets reviewed next month. This would be a part of state tax. States would be encouraged to undertake such levy in order to strengthen their revenue base. Taxing every second car in a same household would also be incorporated in the review of the existing policy”, an official said.
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