Like Delhi, diesel vehicles over 10 years old may be banned in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH : As the city is struggling for parking space due to the ever-increasing vehicles, the UT administration is planning to ban plying of diesel vehicles older than 10 years on the pattern of the Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).
Increasing road tax on vehicle registration to bring it at par with neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana and imposing congestion tax on outside vehicle (not registered in the city) are also being considered.
The proposals were discussed in a meeting of the UT administrator’s advisory council’s committee on transport on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by MP Kirron Kher in which officials of the transport department, traffic police, engineering department and municipal corporation were present. Sources said officials informed Kher about these proposals.
Plying of petrol and diesel vehicles is allowed in Chandigarh for 15 years and after that there is renewal for further five years on the basis of fitness certificate and inspection of vehicle.
The UT is also working on the idea to limit registration of vehicles per household. The proposal was discussed during the recent review meeting on the progress report of Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) on the comprehensive mobility plan for Tricity.
UT adviser Dharam Pal had also issued instructions to departments to effectively implement parking policy. The UT in December 2020 had notified city’s first parking policy. Provision of two gates in plotted areas, congestion pricing during peak hours, mandatory bus stands, community parking lots were some of the key features. However, most of the features till have not been implemented in the city.
Retaining some of the controversial proposals, such as imposition of congestion charges and linking availability of parking space with vehicle registration, the policy’s key focus was on maximising utilisation of existing parking spaces through community parking. At the same time, it pushed for creation of new parking avenues by allowing multi-level parking lots.