Delhi govt mulling congestion fee on private vehicles

In order to discourage people from using their private vehicles which leads to rising pollution in Delhi, the AAP government is mulling on replicating the the Stockholm model of imposing congestion fee on cars entering capital's congested areas.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai along with PWD Minister Satyendar Jain had recently visited Stockholm, capital of Sweden, to study transportation system and road designs there.
"Congestion charge is levied on vehicles entering in congested areas in Stockholm, aimed at discouraging people not to come with their vehicles in such areas...
"We are mulling to introduce congestion fee in Delhi's congested areas and we will have to take steps to discourage people from using their vehicles," Rai told reporters here.

There are several congested areas in Delhi like Chandni Chowk, Laxmi Nagar, Patel Nagar, Karol Bagh, etc.
Stating that Stockholm, which was earlier a polluted city, has got dedicated lanes for buses, cycles, pedestrians and cars, the Minister said there is a need to encourage people not to use their private vehicles to make the city air clean.

"In Sweden, buses run on biogas and methane, generated through garbage in treatment plant. Besides, parking fee is also charged through machines and we should also consider about this. A team from Sweden will soon visit Delhi and study the situation of the capital," Rai said.

Yesterday, North Delhi Municipal Corporation had passed a proposal for revision of one time parking charges which will lead to increase in prices of cars and SUVs in the capital.
Standing Committee of NDMC cleared the proposal for revision of one-time parking fee that is charged at the time of registration of vehicles.
The proposal will push prices of cars and high end non- commercial vehicles by Rs 6,000 to over Rs 6 lakh. The prices of commercial vehicles will be raised by Rs 9,500 to Rs 36,000.