Anurag Kumar
A report by Karnataka’s planning department and an industry group has recommended that Bengaluru implement a congestion tax to alleviate traffic congestion on high density corridors during peak hours.
According to the report titled Karnataka’s Decade – Roadmap to a $1 Trillion Economy, a congestion charge applicable to all non-exempt vehicles entering Bengaluru during peak hours could be implemented to reduce traffic congestion and improve journey times for buses, cars, and delivery vehicles.
The report was released on September 22 by the department of planning, programme monitoring, and statistics in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It proposed multiple measures to alleviate traffic congestion in the state capital.
According to the report, 12 million vehicles enter Bengaluru daily, and 1.2 billion citizens waste 60 billion person-hours annually and roughly 2.8 million liters of fuel per hour due to traffic congestion.
The high density corridors where the congestion tax could be levied include Bellari Road, Tumukuru Road, Magadi Road, Mysuru Road, Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta Road, Hosur Road, Old Madras Road and Old Airport Road, it said.
“The goal would be to make road users aware of the costs they impose on one another when they drive during rush hour,” the report stated.
It was proposed that the FASTag system, which has been operational in the city since 2021, be used to collect the congestion levy. “The imposition of a congestion fee could generate substantial revenue for the metropolis. Since 2021, FASTag has been effectively implemented in the city. According to the report, it is proposed that the same method be used to collect congestion fees in the city.
“Money from the congestion fee can be spent on other modes of public transportation.” It was stated that a reduction in congestion reduces commuters’ and businesses’ time and expenses. Fewer automobiles will reduce air pollution, making city centers more appealing for pedestrians and cyclists. This would aid in enhancing the quality of life.”
Many cities around the world, including Singapore, London, and Stockholm, have implemented congestion fees.
In addition, the report proposes three new Metro corridors: Old Airport Road (MG Road to Hope Farm via Marathahalli and Whitefield), Old Madras Road (KR Puram to Hoskote – Narsapura industrial area connectivity), and the Inner Ring Road circle. Yeshwantpur, Cantonment, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Ashoka Pillar, and Mahalakshmi Layout will be connected by the Inner Ring Road circle.
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According to research conducted by traffic and mobility expert MN Sreehari and his team in June, Bengaluru experiences a yearly loss of 19,725 crore due to traffic delays, congestion, signal stoppages, time loss, fuel loss, and other factors. Sreehari had provided DK Shivakumar with a report containing recommendations on traffic management and road planning.
