The Times of India 28.02.2013
You may have to pay for driving into South Mumbai, western suburbs
MUMBAI: Motorists may soon
have to pay congestion charge for driving into SoBo areas and the
western suburbs, if the state approves the proposal made by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Mumbaikars may also have to pay development charges in the form of
taxes against appreciation of their properties and businesses due to
upcoming infrastructure projects such as sea links, metros and
monorails.
“I think the city should follow the Singapore
pattern. Buying cars there isn’t easy; in fact, it is very expensive.
Besides, there are heavy road taxes and congestion fees. After all,
there will be a limit to elevated roads in a city like Mumbai,” MMRDA
commissioner Rahul Asthana
told the media on Wednesday, a day before his retirement. “Time has
come for Mumbai to think on these lines now… restrictions on private
vehicles through congestion tax or heavy taxation on buying vehicles may
be imminent.”
Senior MMRDA officials said Asthana has already forwarded the recommendations to the state, which will soon take a decision.
“I wonder how vehicles move on the packed S V Road,” he said, upholding
the idea of the MMRDA collecting property tax or 10% development charge
in Bandra-Kurla Complex and other growth centres, such as Wadala and
Oshiwara, where it is the planning and development authority.
Asthana said Mumbai also needs more parking facility and there should
not be any hesitation in collecting betterment charges from people
around the project areas, offering them development and heavy
appreciation in terms of property prices and business prospects. A 1978
batch IAS offer, Asthana, will retire on Thursday after serving the
MMRDA for two years. He is expected to join the MERC’s judicial
commission after a month’s hiatus.
‘Metro-2 should have been underground’
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said he regretted the fact that the
second metro line – Charkop-Bandra- Mankhurd – was not designed
underground. “Personally, I think Metro-2 should be underground, and
extended up to Dahisar. We have also identified land for a car depot at
Dahisar,” he said. Asthana has reportedly made a recommendation to
favour underground metro on this corridor, though it would be a costlier
proposition.
have to pay congestion charge for driving into SoBo areas and the
western suburbs, if the state approves the proposal made by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Mumbaikars may also have to pay development charges in the form of
taxes against appreciation of their properties and businesses due to
upcoming infrastructure projects such as sea links, metros and
monorails.
“I think the city should follow the Singapore
pattern. Buying cars there isn’t easy; in fact, it is very expensive.
Besides, there are heavy road taxes and congestion fees. After all,
there will be a limit to elevated roads in a city like Mumbai,” MMRDA
commissioner Rahul Asthana
told the media on Wednesday, a day before his retirement. “Time has
come for Mumbai to think on these lines now… restrictions on private
vehicles through congestion tax or heavy taxation on buying vehicles may
be imminent.”
Senior MMRDA officials said Asthana has already forwarded the recommendations to the state, which will soon take a decision.
“I wonder how vehicles move on the packed S V Road,” he said, upholding
the idea of the MMRDA collecting property tax or 10% development charge
in Bandra-Kurla Complex and other growth centres, such as Wadala and
Oshiwara, where it is the planning and development authority.
Asthana said Mumbai also needs more parking facility and there should
not be any hesitation in collecting betterment charges from people
around the project areas, offering them development and heavy
appreciation in terms of property prices and business prospects. A 1978
batch IAS offer, Asthana, will retire on Thursday after serving the
MMRDA for two years. He is expected to join the MERC’s judicial
commission after a month’s hiatus.
‘Metro-2 should have been underground’
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said he regretted the fact that the
second metro line – Charkop-Bandra- Mankhurd – was not designed
underground. “Personally, I think Metro-2 should be underground, and
extended up to Dahisar. We have also identified land for a car depot at
Dahisar,” he said. Asthana has reportedly made a recommendation to
favour underground metro on this corridor, though it would be a costlier
proposition.