SMC develops online app to charge green fee

Kuldeep Chauhan

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 25

The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to launch app-based online system for charging green tax from tourists visiting Shimla from September. It has exempted all residents from paying the green fee whose vehicles are not registered in the state. The green fee will generate about Rs 15 crore every year for the SMC.

“After the 25-member SMC House gave its nod this week, the SMC has decided to charge green fee from tourists and other visitors coming to the city,” said Mayor Sanjay Chauhan.

The SMC’s Finance and Contract Planning Committee (FCPC) was chaired by the Mayor and attended by Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Rai and other SMC members.

The committee had cleared the green fee proposal in July, Chauhan added.

The SMC abandoned the plan to set up the green tax barrier near Hotel Snow View. The corporation lacked space to create parking bays while the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) did not give its approval due to space constraints, the officials said.

“We have developed an online application for charging green fee from September. We are clearing modalities for the same,” said Rai. “We will erect bill boards and hoardings at the national highway and entry barrier at Parwanoo to make tourists aware about the green fee,” he added.

The SMC has decided to put in place a four-point system of collecting green fee from vehicles. “The tourists willing to visit Shimla can deposit the green fee online through the green fee application. They can also deposit it at the parking lot or at the SMC counter,” Rai said.

He said local residents whose vehicles were registered outside the state would be exempted from paying green fee. “They will have to give one-time proof of the address. They will be exempted as vehicle number will be registered on the application once and for all,” he added.

The corporation will charge Rs 200 from four-wheelers while the bus and trucks will have to pay Rs 300 as green fee. “If a tourist pays the green fee through his personal mobile number by downloading the green fee app, he/she will pay Rs 190 to make entry of the vehicle in the capital city and it will be valid for a week,” Rai said.

“It is a nominal green fee being charged in order to facilitate tourists, giving them clean and green Shimla and protect the green environment of Shimla,” Chauhan added.