Mumbai Corporators Renew Calls for Congestion Tax as Air Quality Remains Unhealthy
With Mumbai experiencing persistently unhealthy air quality levels since October, elected corporators have intensified their advocacy for introducing a congestion tax in the city's central business districts. They argue that reducing vehicular traffic is essential for addressing the escalating pollution crisis that continues to affect residents' health and urban livability.
Understanding the Congestion Tax Mechanism
A congestion tax represents a fee imposed on vehicles entering densely populated, high-traffic zones during peak hours, with the primary objective of decreasing vehicle volume on already congested roadways. This pricing strategy has been successfully implemented in numerous global cities, including London and Stockholm, demonstrating its potential effectiveness in urban traffic management.
In the Indian context, the Karnataka government proposed a similar levy last year for vehicles traveling on high-density corridors, highlighting growing national interest in such traffic regulation measures. The fundamental goal remains consistent: restricting traffic flow to substantially lower pollution levels and improve overall urban air quality.
Mumbai's Air Quality Crisis: The Current Situation
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPBC) dashboard, Mumbai recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 117 on Sunday, which falls within the moderate category and is considered unhealthy for sensitive population groups, particularly children and senior citizens. Notably, Mumbai's air has remained in the moderate category throughout all days of February so far, following a January where the city experienced unhealthy air quality for 23 consecutive days.
Further CPCB data reveals that 26 out of 28 operational AQI monitoring stations across Mumbai have reported moderate air quality readings. Specific locations have shown particularly concerning levels, with Sion recording the worst AQI at 186, followed by Bandra (East) at 160 and Navy Nagar (Colaba) at 150, indicating widespread air quality challenges throughout the metropolitan area.
Political Push for Congestion Pricing Implementation
Against this environmental backdrop, Makarand Narwekar, a newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator, has formally written to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, urging the civic administration to implement a congestion tax in Mumbai. In his correspondence, Narwekar referenced the recently released Economic Survey, which explicitly recommends congestion pricing as a strategic tool to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce harmful emissions, and enhance urban mobility systems.
"This policy can be implemented in congested central business districts like south Mumbai on a pilot basis," Narwekar stated. "Focused trials in the island city could offer critical insights into the feasibility, challenges and benefits of implementing a congestion charge in Mumbai. This tax will discourage unnecessary vehicle usage, encourage public transportation adoption, and reduce both traffic congestion and air pollution simultaneously."
Proposed Implementation Framework and Revenue Generation
Narwekar has proposed a specific levy structure ranging from ₹50 to ₹100 per vehicle entry during designated peak hours—specifically between 8 am and 11 am, and again from 5 pm to 8 pm. High-traffic zones could be identified using Mumbai's existing CCTV network infrastructure combined with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras strategically installed at key entry points throughout the city.
The corporator further emphasized the potential revenue benefits, noting that "this move is expected to generate an estimated Rs 200–300 crore annually which can be directly reinvested to improve the city's air quality through targeted mitigation measures and infrastructure enhancements."
Vehicular Emissions: A Primary Pollution Contributor
Vehicular emissions have already been formally identified as a major contributor to air pollution under the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP) released in 2023. Compounding this challenge, Mumbai currently maintains the highest vehicle density among all Indian metro cities, with approximately 2,300 vehicles per kilometer according to recent state government data.
This represents a significant increase from previous years, showing 1,840 vehicles per kilometer in 2019 and just 1,150 vehicles per kilometer in 2014. The pressure continues to intensify with new vehicle registrations, as Regional Transport Office (RTO) data indicates that 3.02 lakh vehicles were registered in Mumbai during 2025 alone, up from 2.79 lakh registrations in 2024, underscoring the escalating scale of the urban mobility and environmental challenge facing India's financial capital.
The renewed push for congestion pricing comes at a critical juncture for Mumbai, as city administrators balance economic vitality with environmental sustainability and public health considerations. The proposed tax represents a potential paradigm shift in how the megacity approaches urban transportation management and pollution control, with implications that could extend to other Indian metropolitan areas facing similar challenges.
