New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy Wednesday said that states must think of imposing a road congestion tax on motorists in an effort to check vehicle numbers and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Every state must think of implementing a road congestion tax. Look at Singapore. Everyone talks about its well managed traffic. That’s because they have initiatives like this,” Reddy said on the sidelines of the launch of the Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) in the capital.

“Having said that, we can’t force the states to implement this tax,” he added.

The SUTP aims to encourage people to use public transport instead of personal vehicles and thus control greenhouse gas emissions.

Last month the Delhi government said that it is planning to levy a charge on motorists for driving in congested areas of the capital before the Commonwealth Games scheduled for October 3-14.

Delhi Environment Secretary Dharmendra said: “The Delhi transport department is working out a plan to levy a fee on motorists driving in the congested areas of the capital before the Games. The step would help in controlling number of vehicles in busy areas during the sporting event.”

The Indian capital is among the most polluted cities in the world. Its major problem is an ever-growing number of cars and two-wheelers, which occupy a staggering 75 percent of the road space, although only 20 percent of the commuting public uses these.

Delhi has over five million vehicles and another four million come to the metropolis every day from adjoining states.