New toll tax rates within 3 months for better infrastructure in city

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) In order to upgrade and modernise infrastructure in the city in view of the coming Commonwealth Games, Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra today proposed a ''marginal increase'' in toll tax claiming the move would inflict no burden on the common man.

Addressing the media, Ms Mehra said the move was imperative if proper infrastructure was to be built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

''Besides, the step which is likely to come into effect in the next three months was mandatory if the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was to become self-reliant and sustain proper organic growth of the city.'' Refuting claims that the move would raise toll tax by nearly 40 per cent, the Delhi Mayor said the marginal increase from Rs 25 to Rs 35 for taxis, three wheelers and the like and from Rs 50 to Rs 70 for small commercial vehicles, among others, which carry goods worth lakhs was almost negligible.

''The new rates would generate revenues upto nearly Rs 150 crore which would give manoeuverability to the MCD to take bold steps for infrastructure building and taking developmental works.'' However, ambulances, fire-fighting vehicles, police vehicles, government vehicles with amber lights, defence vehicles and hearses have been exempted from the revision of the rates, she added.

Leader of House Subhash Arya said, ''In the new structure we would be charging for 30 days in a month and allowing multiple entries to vehicles, instead of the earlier charging for 24 days on a per entry basis.'' ''This would automatically balance the tax structure for regular users of the Delhi borders for trade and commerce purposes.'' Standing Committee chairman Vijendra Gupta said modernisation of infrastructure for efficient revenue generation was the motto for the reframing of the toll tax structure.

''With 12 lakh vehicles alone coming from the Badarpur border, a better network of infrastrucure was the need of the hour, hence this step.'' The increase was a miniscule percentage of the cost of goods being ferried by the commercial vehicles and thus there was no question that the move would have a cascading effect on the prices of commodities, he added.

UNI