Delhi may levy cess on outstation vehicles: Sheila Dikshit

Vehicles coming into the national capital from outside may have to pay a cess if Delhi government has its way, a move aimed at minimising the vehicular pollution in the city.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who has been pushing for modernisation of the traffic management system in Delhi, said the government was seriously considering levying a surcharge on such vehicles, and a decision might be in the offing soon.

"Yes, we are toying with the idea. We are examining whether we can have a kind of a toll tax for the vehicles coming into the city like other satellite towns including Gurgaon and Noida," Dikshit said in an interview.

Dikshit said she has already directed officials to study the "gains and losses" of the proposals implemented in these cities. "For instance, Gurgaon has a toll tax going into Gurgaon. Noida also has it... I have asked the officials to study it. See the impact. What will be the losses, what will be the gains and what will be the impact on the people."

Delhi has 37 entry points, and Dikshit hinted that initially the toll tax may be levied in only some of the selected points. She said if government decided to implement the proposal, then a modern mechanised system will be developed for the purpose.

Dikshit has been consistently demanding handing over of traffic management to the city government to bring in efficiency in the system.

To encourage 'green vehicles' like battery-operated Reva cars, the city government gives a 12.5-per cent exemption of Vat on them, along with refund of registration charges.

The government had also imposed a tax of 25 paisa on sale of per litre of diesel, and the fund so created is used for promoting green transport to control air pollution due to vehicular emissions.

The idea of imposing the toll tax is also considered seriously to cut down the number of vehicles coming into the capital and de-congest the city roads.