Apart from several other suggestions, the expert panel drawn from top-notch think tanks, suggested congestion pricing to be introduced in Delhi to mitigate pollution and vehicular congestion at the same time.
Photo: IANS
Will India’s Capital in near future start treating roads as chargeable “scarce” resource instead of “free” public utility?
At least, an expert panel that met the Delhi Environmet Minister Thursday seems to think so. Apart from several other suggestions, the expert panel drawn from top-notch think tanks, suggested congestion pricing to be introduced in Delhi to mitigate pollution and vehicular congestion at the same time.
Advertisement
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the government is working on a sector-wise strategy to reduce emissions across the city.
Advertisement
“We are focusing on major pollution sources through targeted actions in every area. Many expert suggestions align with our ongoing policies, and where further research is needed we are prioritising rigorous assessment so that the impact of our measures can be clearly seen in the coming years,” the minister added.
The expert panel reviewed pollution contributions from different sources and prioritised solutions that address emissions at their origin. Transport emissions remained a major focus during the deliberations.
Industry practices, waste burning and dust from construction activities were identified as other critical areas requiring stronger enforcement and better monitoring.
Officials shared updates on ongoing efforts such as expanding authorised scrapping facilities, improving waste handling systems and enhancing dust control measures at construction sites.
Experts suggested strategies to manage ageing vehicles, improve public transport accessibility and strengthen policies aimed at reducing vehicular pollution.
Improved planning of construction schedules and staggered timings for institutions to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion in the city were among the other suggestions given by the experts.
They also shared ideas related to expanding charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and strengthening vehicle scrapping mechanisms were also examined.
Government officials indicated that several of the suggestions discussed during the meeting align with ongoing initiatives already being tested through pilot projects, research studies and implementation programmes. Inputs that require further technical evaluation will be assessed before being included in the final plan.
The consultations also acknowledged the challenge of transboundary pollution affecting Delhi while emphasising that strong local interventions remain essential to improve air quality.
Global Example and Cost
1. Central London (Introduced in 2003) Rs 1600 per day
2. Stockholm (Introduced in 2007) Max Daily Charge Rs 1000
3. Singapore (Introduced in 1998) Rs 30 to 350 per entry
4. New York (Expected) Rs 1250 per day
The meeting brought together experts from leading environmental organisations, including the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Envirocatalysts, Climate Trends, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and IEEPA.
Senior officials from the Transport Department, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), the Environment Department and scientific institutions also participated in the discussions.
(With inputs from news agency UNI)
Advertisement
