How Congestion Pricing can help Tackle Bengaluru’s Traffic Problems

Congestion pricing (C.P) in Bengaluru:

C.P is a method of charging road users to regulate the demand by increasing the cost of the road. The congestion charge is quite a different concept from the vehicle taxes and tolls that are being implemented in India. Vehicle taxes are paid at the time of the purchase or annually according to the size and type of vehicle. The toll charge is collected from the road users to allow them to use an upgraded road which helps in commuting easily and fast.

According to the Mint’s study, in urban areas, it is observed that eight out of the ten fastest arterial roads are the toll roads as they limit congestion and increase vehicle speeds by controlling the access. But, the urban mobility experts opine that access controlled roads and expressways in India, i.e. toll roads are not a sustainable solution for solving the issue of congestion as even those roads capacity is being crossed by the demand rise of the private vehicles. In Bengaluru, we can observe this in the case of the Electronic city elevated expressway as the additional and widened roads are also eventually filled with private vehicles. C.P is a suggested effective way rather than only tolled expressways as a road user contributing to the additional congestion will pay for the congestion charge for using a congested road.

It should be noted that C.P, along with reducing congestion and air pollution, also achieves the goal of equitable transportation. It is because though a road is a common good, the majority of the roads are filled up with private vehicles can be a method for channeling the benefits of the C.P for the development of the public transit modes and the required infrastructure. In a way to solve the issue of congestion in Bengaluru, it is thus required to regulate the private vehicle users by charging them, mainly for accounting their externalities. C.P, by disincentivizing the private vehicle users, with its channelised fund will redistribute the benefits to the other mode users. But, a good strategy, political will and commitment to C.P are required in Bengaluru. Along with that, the public acceptance for paying the congestion charges should be equally considered. As per the Ola Mobility Institute’s report, the features for a good pricing strategy are fairness, understandable norms and easily enforceable, determinable charges and customisable as per the requirements.

Challenges for implementing Congestion Pricing (C.P) in Bengaluru:

The concept of C.P can be viable in Bengaluru only if its alternate modes of transport (other than private vehicles) are reliable. It is because, without the availability of efficient, safe, accessible and reliable public transportation and non-motorised transport infrastructure, we can’t expect the private vehicle users to shift to public transit. For example, if we have to implement High Occupancy Toll lanes. It is a type of C.P where the pooled vehicles with high occupancy are allowed to use the lane for free and the vehicles with the low occupancy vehicles are charged. This system requires encouraging shared mobility, carpooling and public transportation.

Along with these, this pandemic time should be utilised as an opportunity for standardising the continuation of work from home, staggered work hours policies. Even in the cities like London, Stockholm and Singapore, the C.P hasn’t made its way very smoothly. In those cities, the C.P has got public acceptance only after witnessing the benefits like reduction of the congestion and the improvement of the air quality. So, implementing C.P in Bengaluru will be surely a puzzling situation and also a policy paradox. Nevertheless, at least initial steps towards the thoughts of C.P need to be initiated in Bengaluru’s mobility network.