Sir — The National Green Tribunal has asked the Delhi Government to consider steps like sharp increase in parking fees, imposition of congestion tax etc, as measures to restrict the use of cars. Earlier, a ban on the use of 15-year-old cars had been imposed.
The problem is that Metro trains and buses are already running packed, and auto-drivers usually decline to go by the fare meter. The NGT should rather direct the Delhi Government to grant licences for new auto-rickshaws immediately on demand without any number-restriction, to create a competition amongst auto-drivers to carry passengers according to fare meters.
However, effective one-time measures need to be directed by the NGT to discourage the purchase of new cars, that can include a steep excise hike on new cars. The Union Government should be directed and/or recommended to levy differential rates of ad valorem excise duty on cars according to their ex-factory price rather than according to their linear dimensions, at a much-hiked rate of, say 50 per cent.
Since the purchase of expensive cars has become a status symbol rather than a necessity, such vehicles should be taxed at double the excise duty as compared to cars with lower ex-factory price.