Delhi Government to charge one rupee cess on cigarette and liquor to promote public transport

Delhi government on 12 September 2014 decided to charge cess of one rupee on every packet of cigarette and every bottle of liquor to promote public transport.

Delhi government decided to establish an urban transport fund to promote public transport and its use in a bid to tackle the rising pollution levels in the national capital.

The decision was taken under the high powered committee meeting. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung.

The committee was constituted in May 2014. The committee was formed to suggest short-term and long-term measures to help check pollution levels.

Following are the decisions taken by the committee to curb rising Pollution

•    The government has also decided to introduce eight coaches in 129 metro trains by March 2017. So far, only 58 metro trains run with 8 coaches.

•    The Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for all vehicles plying in Delhi will be regularised. Soon Delhi Traffic Police will make it mandatory for all vehicles to display a valid PUC sticker on the vehicle.

•    The Public Works Department (PWD) and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) will make provisions of U-turns or underpasses at specific border locations so that entry of non-destined vehicles in Delhi may be prohibited and they be turned back.

•    Also, to check the menace of overloading, the Transport Department has been asked to prepare a plan to install weigh-in-motion systems at all entry points in Delhi.

•    Delhi Traffic Police will take strict action against unauthorised, obstructive parking and will carry out an exercise to enforce ‘No Parking/No Stopping/No Tolerance Zone’ in the city.

•    DMRC has selected three metro stations to provide the charging infrastructure support for the pilot fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles.

•    In addition, the DMRC has operationalised 34 CNG Mini buses.

•    Meanwhile, Delhi government will carry out an awareness drive about air pollution in the city and will sensitise the public about measures that they can adopt to help check pollution.