Residents of Bengaluru overwhelmingly express frustration and skepticism towards the proposed congestion tax, viewing it as a financial burden imposed on the working class without meaningful improvements to public transport and infrastructure. There is a strong desire for comprehensive solutions rather than punitive measures, alongside a belief that the government is evading responsibility for the city's traffic issues.

Bengaluru Government

Bengaluru Residents

London and Singapore also have extensive public transport, but somehow that's not a priority

slipnips

While I agree that people driving huge ass cars alone is a huge reason for the traffic, govt can’t blame it on them since the alternatives are very limited. I’m all for congestion fee IFF there is good public transportation. Build metro, increase bus frequency, solve last mile commute. If people still use car to travel alone, then sure collect a fee.

Mindless-Pilot-Chef

This is so stupid.

They ban QuickRide and other ride sharing apps, ban Rapido bike and expect people to ride on their bikes to work on those godawful roads?

magnificoooooo

Zestyclose_Virus7869

What the govt is saying is   - "It is too difficult to fix problems we created for the most part due to lack of urban planning and our desire to make money and stay on power. So lets us fix the problem by making you pay more money in the name of congestion pricing"

  
What a wonderful idea sirji?

Somedays, We deserve this kind of governance I think .

  
You want a solution.. First and foremost, stop giving permission for any more building in and around ORR.. Then figure out alternate roads, entry and exit points.. Build the metro faster.. Then loot us more..

etrast75

If they want to penalize a single person travelling in a car, then legalize carpooling. 

Ensure no auto mafia, cab mafia or police troubles users car pooling.

IamBatsy69

&gt; Cars with two or more occupants won’t be charged. This is not just about building infrastructure but also managing demand. London and Singapore do it, and Bengaluru, as one of the fastest-growing cities, needs to consider it too.

Infra like Eritrea, tolls like Singapore. Lol.

ani625

congestion pricing is predicated on the assumption that the alternatives are robust and always available with a reasonable absence of barriers (safety, last-mile etc). 

This is not true for ORR.

Carpooling would be nice but the govt tends to be hot-and-cold on that.

StayingUp4AFeeling

They should ask companies opting for 5 days wfo to pay higher taxes

It would be better for both the employees and the government

Constant-Section-532

Maybe we could go in the bus.

The bus:

https://preview.redd.it/pch5d406m9rf1.jpeg?width=3000&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=133ae3c69a0d3d0bd7075a013e2765c5be23345c

shouryasinha9

The truth is that this is going to take more like 9 years. You cannot fix a city rotting for 20 years in 90 days. It is not possible. There needs to be a fundamental rethink of the entire city infrastructure - including electricity and water, garbage and sewage, water bodies, housing, layout planning, roads, public transport, footpaths, slow traffic (cycle, e-bike, mopeds), etc., and the implementation can only happen slowly, phase by phase, over the years.  

Until and unless someone accepts this, takes time to talk to citizens and come up with a master plan that will take time to implement, everything else is eyewash.   

London may have congestion pricing, but it also has through flat footpaths, a rail system that transports 50 Lakh people a day, and popping up cycle/moped ways that can take people from more or less one end of the city to another, often completely isolated from traffic arteries through greenery and residential streets. None of this is true for the vast majority of Bengaluru, is it?

rowschank

WFH mandate is the cheapest solution to traffic in Bengaluru. Those who can't WFH will enjoy emptier roads, those who can will not further the problem. Win win situation for everybody.

bogas04

Penalise cars with single occupants. Also ban car pooling apps. Masterstroke.

10n3_w01f

rantthrowawayforreal

So if you want to save money and still get to office, you still end up having chest congestion.

Individual-Cattle-15

How about 50x more fees for politicians and their entourage blocking regular traffic for passing through

jim1o1

You ban carpooling apps like Quik ride which are making car pooling practical and simpler. 

You ban bike taxis which provide a cheaper way for the public to not take their own vehicles out.

You ban any private player from running any public transport bigger than cars like mini bus , tempo traveler or bus. 

You don't provide any reliable,fast public transport. Metro which has been " fast tracked" for ORR line is be constructed at same ( slow) pace as rest of metro lines. 

Then you come up with the idea to charge people more to take their own vehicles out on the road because there is no other better option.

Excellent-Leopard-23

Working on a startup where you can hire a passenger for less than the congestion fee.

These_Letter7374

Just impose more taxes/fees on the middle class in the name of congestion fees. 

Buses do not connect anywhere from the main ORR to interior areas alongside ORR. In bellandur, one has to be  a decathlon athlete to even reach the bust stop. 

Where is the metro?  Divert money from metro construction to guarantee schemes, Then give out contracts to cheap Chinese companies who then block train sets from delivery to India due to a security escalation between the 2 countries.

Every auto takes a minimum of 100rs for 5 min journey. On meter it will be less than 30rs. When is meter fare getting enforced?

 On top of that, ban bike shares, don't build any connecting/alternative roads to interior areas from Marathalli to Silkboard/HSR/Electronic city. All traffic then has to be funnelled on ORR. 

Cant ask WFH in 26/27 as Karnataka Gov promised IT companies to extend WFH in 2022 and 2023 while they built metro. Now metro looks like it will take 5 more years to complete. 

All of us have to now drive bikes when ORR is fully polluted due to metro construction, construction materials are lying on the street causing driving hazards. 

Absolutely shameful planning.

FarDetail7409

Remind me, weren't these the same folks who banned Carpooling? What the plan here? Charge us if we drive alone and Fine us if we carpool?

AsurPravati

It'll just be comfort tax for those driving their cars alone, won't ease the traffic

RadioactiveMurukku

Ahhhh!!! Congestion pricing.
If you can’t provide better infrastructure, let’s remove everything that uses the said infrastructure.

We you can’t treat leg Pain, let’s cut off your leg.

BeautifulYou2339

&gt;a car with only one occupant enters ORR, q congestion fee may be automatically deducted via FASTag.

That's absurd. If I have to go pick my family I somehow cant drive alone?

imad7x

Congestion-pricing -&gt; one slightly louder than normal cough from the auto unions and this will be rolled back in one femto-second.

the_storm_rider

Their brilliant plan is to make middle class office goers pay more? 

Tell me this, why trying to block ride sharing apps then?

xlnc375

lol! Destroyed Bangalore with unplanned greedy corruption over the past 10-15 years (including some from state BJP) and now want to fix in 90 days

archjh

Comprehensive coverage and ease of usability in terms of pedestrian and public transportation is imperative before congestion charges are implemented, otherwise it would just add up to the monthly expenditure just like a toll.

ZestycloseAd2742

Congestion pricing? What a bunch of twats. 

RareGollum

Always efficient to charge people... lazy in fixing public transport and foot paths.
Thats our India

ImmortalMermade

Individual_Painter86

What’s the alternative for them to travel in ?

Zlatanflicks

Where is the fee going to be used? Which pockets or potholes or transport would it fill? /s We should get more information if it’s a plan! 

I am typing without reading the article but I am sure the article and the sources do not know that either. :(

Radsal

So create the congestion and then tax people more? I hate driving car in ORR but my company mandates me to be in office everyday, and there is no half-decent public transportation available for me. Rather than this gimmick they should fix public transportation and mandate companies to offer WFH.

Extension_Artist3006

For 90 days, so many people will be affected.

Idiotsofblr

Public transport is lacking Auto Mafia is at all time, high and buses. Don’t stop at bus stop bay. They only stop at the entrance and the exit of the flyovers, causing traffic jams.

Ya installing a fast tag reader machine is the easier option.

MudMassive2861

This government is only accountable to auto drivers.

AdEvening8700

Fundamental question from basic civil planning. 

Is the ORR wide enough to handle the exponential increase in traffic from exponential increase tech parks on that stretch? 

Maybe civil architects on reddit could add more depth??

BoredGuy_v2

Just another way to loot the salaried class.. the money won't go to actually fixing anything at all

rising_pho3nix

udarvis

The money generated from all these comfort tax will distribute in form of a freebie , nothing will go towards fixing 

Technical-Isopod6554

Congestion pricing? That's stupid without proper alternatives

inaminadicka

You'll soon see human life size photos being sold to keep on the passenger seat to evade this tax

kamathsonline

Bro, we don't have roads. What are you talking about?

DCP-Ram

Nice. Basically throw the problem on the public.

If you simply lay roads as they should be there would be ZERO congestion!!!


Every problem is an opportunity for these fellows to earn.

Due-Astronaut-1074

Where is Uber Shuttle and Uber Pool ? Who is not letting it start ?

rk19

There will be a guy like me who has used public transport, cab and bike all his life but now he might have bought a car coz of age, health issues etc but just then how would he feel for all these years he didn't drive a car used public transport, cab, bike and supported his city coz he felt too 3-4 person 1 car should be a rule and now when he has the car and plan to have a relax drive and this rule came.

Irony: directly into your arrse

appu49

If this 90-day action plan flops, what’s next?  another 90-day action plan?

London and Singapore make congestion pricing work because people there actually have civic sense. They follow rules, respect lanes, and don’t treat traffic signals like suggestions.

That’s the real problem here not just infra, but mindset. Until we fix lane discipline, rampant honking, and one-person SUV's and 2 Wheeler's clogging ORR, even a 900-day plan won’t save Bengaluru.

rocky23m

Forget about autos / bikes  for last mile connectivity . There is no decent footpath to walk from these connections point . ORR is the worst specially clouded with dust and so much pollution . 

The roads are broken ( wondering when those will be fixed ) , there are far more U turns impacting traffic pattern and flows 

Crazy amount of school buses that stop randomly close to tight drop off points ! 

Zero plantation along the medians to avoid dust

Wondering how much more I will be taxed despite walking to home from a metro stop !

Smooth-Site-4391

You must be one of those bike wala who do filtering between cars 🤣

Asleep_Monitor_313

thruth_seeker_69

Need a GenZ protest against these big political mafias. Be either left or right no one cares. If you care about your family who are on roads, let rise up

CallMe-Professor

Although, I've been using public buses regularly to work, I've realised that it ends up taking more time in the morning than it should because either the bus frequency is low early in the morning or they're crowded or they would stop in the middle of the road to cut tickets or, just halt for 5 minutes or so at major bus stop, meanwhile causing a traffic jam.

Whenever I've to reach sooner or avoid wasting time, I would just take my car. Or if I don't want to arrive at work exhausted or soaked in sweat.

emotionalAtyachaaar

Govt is busy with freebies instead of putting funds in improving public transport and last mile connectivity. Auto wala charges more than aeroplane rates for last mile. Why would people not take cars and personal vehicles out till this is fixed. Govt needs to grow some brains and stop putting burden on working class people.

ProProcastinator29

Tasty-Entertainer586

A simple Car Size and Timing slab-based congestion fee will encourage people to drive smaller cars and avoid peak traffic times. Even a 20% reduction in traffic will stop gridlock

99% of car owners would be willing to pay something if that ment reduction in traffic

InsectFit9572

Remember not too long ago there was a ban on car pooling apps. Our traffic police went out of their way to catch those criminals who dared use car pooling apps. Bike taxi bans caused a traffic spike. Instead of letting ppl solve problems cost effectively, govt steps in to find innovative ways to loot people

Flaky_Reply_4371

While I like the idea that a congestion fee makes sense to dissuade people from travelling alone and causing traffic, i see it as a way the govt wants to make more money from the people. They should also make a clear directive that this money will only be used to make infrastructure better, not give one more bhagya

oddish_101

Finally the recent outrage is pushing the Govt and authorities to at least talk about traffic/pothole issues. Let's see how these translate into real impact.

mecyborg

Atleast the Congress govt. is trying what the fuck BJP did in it's term but it's something which majority bhakt crowd in karnataka won't get it

Fit_Television3597

Ok I am impressed with some of the points, especially the congestion fee and the section for garbage disposal. Let's see how it shapes up. I don't want to get my hopes up at this stage. 

Moist-Chart2440

Most people may not accept it, but single occupant cars are somewhat wrong.

Just my opinion.

fred_1968

I agree with this. Bengaluru has too many single occupant cars. They're the reason for the traffic.

gooner_by_heart

Orr has 500-D, sarige, volvo, vayu vajra, electric ac, electric non AC, metro feeder. There is no question about lack of public transport.

VividPossibility5326

Congestion tax is just another way to discriminate against the working class. Roads are a public utility and ought to be for everyone

RaccoonDoor

Either road tax or congestion tax. decide on one. If you want to introduce congestion tax, refund the road tax.

doolpicate

Congestion tax is a good idea provided you have equally competent public transport like London. Indian governments like the stick but don’t provide the carrot.

raddiwallah

Yes, one more tax.

That's exactly what we need!

Said NOONE ever.

Ducati781

So you want to further the punishment of 2% responsible citizens who pay taxes for rest of the country. Good. Being salaried and middle class is a sin in this country.

bigpeepeeproblems

In the same breath they say carpooling is illegal

SideEye2X

When you don’t want to put any effort and also make some extra money on the side.

beardedBroistaken

No.

The sensible way is to restrict cars of certain sizes in certain areas for a time duration. The K'taka govt model is flawed and will progressively piss of people who feed most into the consumer economy.

An Alto and an Auto takes about same space, and given BLR has no shared auto its carrying a single person too, what does the Alto owner do wrong? Worked hard and saved up, and paid RTO tax to the state govt woth 70k or so, and the govt kicks them in the teeth?

K'taka should follow a simple rule as a guding principle. Look at what WB did in the 80s-90s and **DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE**. Harassing relatively affluent people drives them away from economic activity, impoverishes the entire population.

iobug

I hope congestion tax starts from politicians' bank accounts or assets. That's where the congestion really is. For all that's accumulated, the tax will fetch a lot of money. No more fund crunch,  can build a new city and with that no more congestion!! Ta da..

chombuka

It's terrible 
For people staying near those roads that's the only way they can travel around.

It's just another way to make money as freebies have drained their wallet.

bluu_94

Good. But don't restrict only to vehicle owners.

Congested office spaces &amp; tech parks, congestedly constructed shops and malls, cabs &amp; vehicles that park on the roads.

If you cannot, then atleast impose a congestion tax on IT cos on a per employee, per day basis that have work from the office. Let's see how the head honchos justify work from office when they have a huge-ass tax staring them in the face. The entire IT world worked remote just fine for close to two years,  why call them to office frequently now ? Just have a monthly/quarterly offsite and be done with it... Productivity my ass !

kap_nemo

They just want more money. What they do with it is not in anyone's control. Wait till you see thousands of crores worth ads paid by taxpayers in election bound states outside Karnataka.

Squidward_nopants

More tax and bad infra, more bright minds leave country

recoilcoder

Why TF should I pay a premium road tax.. then again congestion tax.. what alternatives are they providing?

Here’s what’s going to happen - lack of other transportation means will force people to pay the congestion tax - govt pockets extra money - all the while core problem remains unchanged.

Ero_Sanin

First they collect exorbitant road tax and now congestion tax. Next what ? If you fill more than 20 ltrs of fuel then you ll have to pay 10% extra ?

pun-tang

Imagine the money they would have made yesterday if the tax was already operational

perfopt

[https://pedestrianobservations.com/2021/01/21/poor-rich-countries-and-isomorphic-mimicry/](https://pedestrianobservations.com/2021/01/21/poor-rich-countries-and-isomorphic-mimicry/)

SuperSenBoy

Stupid crap. As if the 0 milage and insane delays in a congestion isn't punishing enough. Do they think that people enjoy getting into a jam, that they need to be dissuaded with a financial stick.

CommonCantaloupe2

Congestion tax for what private cars? 
Do you include bikes? 
Congestion charge applied to bus ? 
Autos and cab ? 

Open ended question add details. 

In general Bad, we already enough taxes do not want another one.

Maleficent_Doubt_443

There used to be a drive against car pooling apps. Police went out of their way to catch the criminals who dared use those car pooling apps. Now this..

Separate_House_70

I don't mind congestion tax on certain cars on certain roads. 

For example, if one person is in a whiteboard 4-wheeler during peak hours on the ORR, he/she should pay a congestion tax.

That also means carpooling should be allowed to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. I am sure the auto mafia overlords will not let the carpooling apps survive. 

So, no go on congestion tax for me.

SpecificRound1

It's good, if they refund some portion of the highest road tax in India collected for our vehicles and change its to pay road tax as you go model.

galileo_reborn

provide better end to end connectivity and stop the greedy autos/cabs so that ppl don't have to use their personal vehicles unless there is a real emergency

Yash_Th

Another alternative could be that companies and tech parks shouldn't give parking passes to 4W. Instead have large parking fees and support public transport sponsoring their BMTC pass or something like that

[deleted]

Congestion is because so many MNCs are crammed in one city. Not because people driving cars.Congestion is because delay in cities Metro and roads planning. I do not blame people using their vehicle for everyday commute(public transport is a joke). Now that govt has crammed so many MNCs and their employees in one city out of greed, they must find a solution and not fine them. Congestion tax won't deter people. Many people are flocking into the city still even knowing about all shortcomings(higher rents, traffic, water crisis etc) about the city. No one can stop Lemmings.!!

slimved

But one thing I’m not clear on is - is there any alternative to ORR? If I have to go to silk board from lets say ecoworld, what should be my alternative road? Or I don’t understand congestion tax

ridgeossal

Government will not do anything other than taxing the working class and doing nothing for them. 

If government builds all metro lines in ORR and Electronic city and to Airport, and makes buses free for everyone, then congestion taxes can be considered.

Bayonet786

It's always the income tax payer who gets their backs broken with tax! If we are to ignore the giant road infrastructure shortcoming of city with the highest road tax, it comes down to employees going back to office. That is, employees being dragged back to office for work they were successfully doing remotely for two plus years. So, let the businesses pay for it. If your employee is brought back to office when their job could very well be done remotely, pay congestion tax on their behalf or offer them bus/van service.

Haarryi

Instead of stopping toll roads within the city, they plan on increasing tolled roads, fining you more money and hiking tolls. How does that make sense?

the69boywholived69

Why you guys even living in this city run by corrupt and incompetent people? 

Get a remote job and say FO to all this BS.

hekermon

If it gets the chapri’s off the road on peak hours , I’m all for it

AltruisticPaint

Bad .

.the government needs to get the metro near orr running soon .

First of all that Marathahalli bridge is badly constructed they should have made one like the one near Indira nagar at least that would have been better.

And then there's this. Absolute circus. They have no idea what they want to do 
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/bengaluru/transport-dept-to-crack-down-on-carpool-apps/articleshow/104001214.cms

that-pipe-dream

I don't understand how this will be implemented. Will people at toll booths be charged more when there is more congestion in the city? If so, how would that prevent congestion? People at the toll booths are already in their cars. Will they exit their cars and use public transport AFTER having paid a higher toll?  


Or, will car owners be charged a monthly fee for their registration? If so, how can they tell the difference between a car on the road and a car gathering dust in a garage?   


Will petrol prices rise depending on congestion? Again, people refuelling their cars are already in their cars. They won't exit and change mode of transportation after having paid a premium in fuel.  


Taxation is generally a tool to discourage the public from doing certain things but I don't see how a congestion tax would help.

divyanthj

Bengaluru is considering a congestion tax to address traffic issues, which has sparked both support and criticism.

Bengaluru Congestion Tax Proposal

Why This Matters

Public Sentiment Summary

Highlighted Comments

Parties Involved

What the people want