Congestion tax for solo car travel in Bengaluru? Govt mulls new traffic rule

To tackle Bengaluru’s traffic chaos, the government is considering a congestion tax on cars with solo drivers, starting as a pilot on Outer Ring Road.

Bengaluru’s traffic nightmare may soon see a bold experiment. The Karnataka government is reportedly considering a “Congestion Tax” on cars with only one person inside, hoping to reduce gridlock and encourage carpooling, cab-sharing, and public transport use.

The plan may begin with a pilot project on Outer Ring Road (ORR), one of the city’s most traffic-heavy corridors. If successful, the congestion tax could be extended to other parts of the city. Cars with two or more passengers may be exempt, directly incentivizing carpooling and shared mobility.

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Officials argue that solo car travel consumes road space inefficiently, worsening jams. By discouraging one-person trips, the government hopes to nudge commuters towards greener, collective travel options.

However, the proposal has triggered sharp opposition among residents and on social media. Citizens argue that taxing solo drivers without ensuring robust public transport, pothole-free roads, and wider metro access is unjust.

Critics highlight Bengaluru’s potholes, open manholes, haphazard parking, and poor bus connectivity. Many insist the government should first fix infrastructure before taxing drivers. Some even challenged ministers to commute in single cars before imposing the rule on the public.

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While some policy experts back the tax as a step towards sustainable mobility, others call it a “punitive move” in a city struggling with weak transport systems. Supporters believe it could normalize carpooling, reduce pollution, and ease jams, but skeptics remain firm: fix the roads first, then think of taxes.

For now, the congestion tax idea is still in the discussion stage. Whether Bengaluru sees a shift towards carpooling or more frustration on the roads depends on how the government balances policy ambition with ground realities.