Planned toll on vehicles entering Colombo
View(s):The government is preparing plans for a toll on vehicles entering Colombo and intends to enforce it from next year, officials said, adding that the proposed toll would be included in next year’s budget proposals.
Another proposal receiving consideration is to impose a levy on joggers and walkers using specially built areas in the capital.
According to the road tax proposal, special ticket counters are will be set up at vehicle entering points of Galle Road, Kandy Road and Negombo Road. Motorists are expected to retain the ticket until they leave city limits.
This proposal was aimed at increasing the revenue of Colombo Municipal Council and other relevant local government authorities, officials revealed.
Over 41,000 light vehicles enter Colombo City on week days causing heavy traffic congestion, police said. The proposal to levy a fee on hundreds of people using walking tracks and bicycle paths on a daily basis is aimed at recovering the money spent for the development of public open spaces in Colombo and suburban areas and its maintenance, the officials said.
This proposal was discussed at a top level meting recently with the modalities and practicability of such a system as well as bottlenecks in implementation also being discussed.
Please see page 7A survey carried out by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) reveals that, the development of such spaces near Independence Square, Water’s Edge, the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Road in Colombo, and the Nawala Wetland Park near Nugegoda are very popular at present.
Similar walking tracks are to be built in the Gampaha district with many more such tracks planned in all the metropolitan areas that are being developed by the UDA.
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