Delhi to collect congestion charges using FastTag: Who will be charged, who are exempt?

The Delhi Government is preparing to start charging a congestion charge on vehicles entering the capital during peak hours, hoping to tackle both traffic jams and pollution.

This initiative, which will use FASTag and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology for seamless collection, will target vehicles entering Delhi from border areas during busy hours.

The proposed charges will apply between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in the morning and again from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. in the evening, focusing on 13 major entry points notorious for heavy traffic. By discouraging personal vehicle use during these hours, the government aims to reduce congestion and promote cleaner modes of transport.

There will be key exemptions under the new scheme. Two-wheelers and electric vehicles are not subject to the charge, part of the government’s effort to push for greener transportation alternatives. Vehicles that meet BS6 pollution standards may also receive incentives, further encouraging eco-friendly travel.

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This plan is inspired by cities like London and Singapore which have successfully implemented these models. In these cities, congestion charges have effectively reduced traffic volumes and improved air quality significantly.

Officials hope Delhi’s version will not only cut down on vehicular emissions but also prompt more people to switch to public transport or adopt electric vehicles.

This isn’t Delhi’s first attempt at introducing congestion charges though. A similar plan was proposed in 2018, targeting 21 high-traffic zones across the city, including key areas like Hauz Khas Metro, the ITO intersection, and the Aurobindo Chowk-Andheria More route.

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However, the earlier initiative was abandoned due to logistical challenges. Going back even further, in 2009, the then-Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, floated the idea of charging private vehicles to encourage public transport use, but the plan never took off.

Public response to this new congestion tax has been mixed, with a certain camp mostly comprising from the middle class, expressing their concerns. Some feel that the financial burden of solving Delhi’s pollution and traffic issues is once again being unfairly placed on the middle class. Others, question whether the new congestion charge will succeed, given the failures of previous attempts.

If implemented smoothly, the Delhi government hopes the congestion tax will curb emissions and reduce traffic jams, alleviating some of the city’s environmental challenges. For now, all eyes are on the rollout, as the government fine-tunes the details of this long-discussed plan.