The chairman dismissed the suggestion of implementing a congestion tax on external vehicles, stating it was unsuitable for Indian conditions, drawing a distinction between Chandigarh and Central London.Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari chaired a transport sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, focusing on paid parking concerns in commercial and residential zones. The committee reviewed a pilot parking project in Sector 35 residential area. The chairman asked for a review of building bylaws to accommodate stilt parking, alongside other transport-related discussions.
The committee addressed auto-rickshaw registration, noting 5,000 registrations each in Punjab and Haryana. Discussions included the city's Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure, with concerns raised about vandalised and non-functional charging points. The MP emphasised that green transport transition requires reliable and cost-effective EV infrastructure.
The chairman dismissed the suggestion of implementing a congestion tax on external vehicles, stating it was unsuitable for Indian conditions, drawing a distinction between Chandigarh and Central London.
Regarding public transport, the committee called for an immediate review of the tri-city grid system, ordering a feasibility survey for its revival. The Chandigarh Transportation Association President highlighted the need for transport area modernisation. The chairman requested a site visit with key officials, including UT SSP (Traffic) and chief engineers of UT and MC.
The discussion on Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) revealed UMTA's decision to study metro systems in cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, and Noida. The chairman emphasised the importance of long-term planning for the Tricity region, suggesting that economic growth depends on an MRTS connecting Chandigarh, Mohali, New Chandigarh, and Panchkula. He recommended approaching the GOI for grant-based funding for the Four City Metro project.
