Overview
- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there is no proposal to impose a congestion tax in Bengaluru, calling reports of such a plan false.
- The levy was discussed by urban experts as a way to discourage single-occupant cars, with a suggested pilot on the Outer Ring Road during peak hours.
- Collection concepts reported in studies included using FASTag or GPS-based systems to automatically charge vehicles in designated zones.
- An ISEC study recommended charging ₹100–₹500 for private vehicles entering select central business district roads such as MG Road, Brigade Road, and Dr Ambedkar Veedhi during rush hours.
- Opposition BJP leaders criticized the notion as premature and urged the government to repair roads, while Shivakumar emphasized large infrastructure projects like a peripheral ring road, express corridors, flyovers, tunnels, and double-decker roads as the preferred approach.