1 hr ago
Mumbai May Consider Congestion Pricing After Public Transport Upgrade
Mumbai has a lot of traffic, and officials are discussing a possible solution.
The solution is called congestion pricing.
It would make drivers pay to enter or travel through especially crowded areas.
Ashwini Bhide said this should happen only after public transport becomes much better.
That could include better buses, metro lines and other transport options.
She pointed to Singapore as an example of a city with strong public transport and congestion pricing.
Bhide said Mumbai’s major transport projects are expected to be completed within five years.
A previous proposal suggested testing the idea in parts of South Mumbai during busy hours.
BMC Chief Ashwini Bhide said Mumbai could consider congestion pricing after improving public transport.
She said a stronger network should give residents a practical alternative to private vehicles.
Bhide cited Singapore’s metro, monorail, bus, waterways and common ticketing system as an example.
She said all Mumbai metro lines, the Coastal Road and ongoing infrastructure projects are expected to be completed within five years.
BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar previously proposed a pilot targeting single-occupant vehicles in Fort, Nariman Point and Colaba during peak hours.
- Who
- BMC Chief and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Ashwini Bhide; BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar also previously proposed a pilot.
- What
- Officials are discussing congestion pricing for private vehicles in selected high-traffic areas of Mumbai.
- Where
- Potential areas include parts of South Mumbai, such as Fort, Nariman Point and Colaba.
- When
- Bhide made the comments in a recent private podcast, reported on September 9, 2026; Narwekar’s proposal was made earlier.
- Why
- The proposal is intended to address traffic congestion, but Bhide said public transport must first be strengthened.
Key facts
- Proposal status
- Congestion pricing was presented as a possible future solution, not an announced policy.
- Condition
- Bhide said public transport should be improved before congestion pricing is introduced.
- Potential coverage
- The charge could apply in selected high-traffic areas.
- Comparable example
- Bhide cited Singapore’s metro, monorail, bus, waterways and common ticketing system.
- Infrastructure timeline
- Bhide said Mumbai’s metro lines, Coastal Road and ongoing infrastructure projects are expected to be completed within five years.
- Earlier pilot proposal
- Makarand Narwekar suggested targeting single-occupant private vehicles entering busy South Mumbai areas during peak hours.
- Suggested pilot zones
- Fort, Nariman Point and Colaba were named as possible locations.
Quotes
Ashwini Bhide
BMC municipal commissioner and managing director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation
“Once you give citizens the option of public transport, which is a good one, then you can force them to not use private vehicles, and can also use a mechanism to incentivise or disincentivise that. In cities like Singapore, which has congestion pricing, are able to do that because of its robust public transport, including metro, monorail, bus and waterways, with a common ticketing system. Despite this, if someone wants to use a private vehicle, then they have to pay higher.”
freepressjournal.in
“For Mumbai also we can think of introducing congestion pricing in certain areas, once we enhance our public transport system, including robust bus transport.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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