London, Singapore, Malta, Oslo, Stockholm and several other cities around the globe already charge their motorists for using roads, and if the present traffic situation continues to remain, or becomes worse, motorist in Mumbai, will also have to pay for using roads.
Though not announcing the commencement of the congestion tax in the near future, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, said yesterday, that if the per day registration of vehicles in Mumbai continues to go up, the state, like others cities around the world, may have to consider collecting a tax from motorists for using roads. The CM said this yesterday evening during his speech at the Inaugural ceremony of Issuance of Smart Card by Western India Automobile Association, at Walchand Hirachand Hall, Indian Merchant Chambers, Churchgate.
Hinting more on reforms that need to be taken by the Regional Transport Office, in addition to revamping the present practices, the CM said that testing tracks for drivers to keep road space for licensed motorists as well as electronic simulators are being thought about by the department in order to bring changes that help both the motorists and the transport department.
The Transport Department has for the first time outsourced the business of issuance of driving license to an outside agency, in this case, WIAA. The scheme is only for its 80,000 members and their children. The members will be issued Smart Card driving licenses at the WIAA office, IMC.