New Delhi: Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari Questions were raised on Monday about how much has been done to tackle Delhi’s air pollution problem through the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) levied from vehicles. He also pointed out that collecting municipal tolls and ECC at Delhi borders by intercepting vehicles on the National Highways (NH) defeats the objective of seamless travel, undermines the central government’s huge investment in road infrastructure and brings bad name to NHAI.Addressing the media after launching multi-lane free movement (MLFF) or barrier-free toll collection at UER-II’s Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza, Gadkari said that despite the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) investing huge sums in improving the city’s road network, people are still facing one major problem: “That is the collection of green sewage (read ECC). I do not wish to make any comment on the order to collect such items. But the toll collector will come to our NH and stop the vehicle. The green process was introduced to utilize the amount collected to mitigate air pollution in Delhi. I don’t want to comment on how much work has been done with the Rs 800 or Rs 900 crore raised in this way. “The minister said he had earlier urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and was now urging local MPs to address the issue as imposing any charges by blocking traffic would invalidate the government’s efforts to achieve seamless travel. “MCD is facing financial problems. The Delhi government can help it by providing funds. Otherwise, if the municipality gives GST exemption for the works we are doing, we can pay the amount. We have to take steps to solve the problems faced by people. People blame us and we have no role in this matter,” Gadkari said.At a review meeting in June last year, the minister had recommended to the Delhi chief minister and lieutenant governor that physical admission fee collection points on city boundaries be scrapped, saying they were a “nuisance” to commuters.Gadkari also urged commuters to adhere to traffic rules and warned them that details of violators and evidence captured by cameras will be shared with authorities in Delhi and Haryana for action.
