GURUGRAM: The Haryana government, which has moved the Supreme Court seeking a share of the environment compensation charge levied by Delhi at its borders with other states, is planning a similar tax for commercial vehicles entering Gurugram.
Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has directed the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to examine the feasibility of the proposal in consultation with the transport department.
.As of now, there is no such charge for entering Gurugram, But if the Delhi-like tax is imposed, cab rides to the Haryana city of multinationals and offices will become expensive.
GMDA officials said they had written to the transport department. “We have asked them if it is feasible to impose a similar charge on vehicles entering Gurgaon from other states,” said a senior GMDA official. He added that the authority could proceed with the proposal only if there was a favourable response from the transport department.
It was last year that the metropolitan authority had submitted a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a share in the environment compensation charge being levied by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi at the Sirhaul toll and other borders with the capital. The case is yet to be listed for hearing.
Officials said the Haryana government was of the view that since Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat were part of the National Capital Region, they should be allowed a share of the environmental tax, which could later be used for developing infrastructure for non-motorised transport.
The environment charge is being levied on all commercial vehicles entering Delhi following a Supreme Court order of 2015. “The amount collected is used exclusively for augmenting public transport and improving roads in Delhi, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists,” said a GMDA official. The tax collected is also supposed to be used for checking pollution levels in the capital.
“The maximum number of vehicles entering Delhi is from Haryana. Three of Haryana’s major cities are part of NCR. We should also be able to use the money from the tax for developing roads, cycling tracks and walkways. This will also help bring down the pollution levels,” the official added.
