London hikes congestion charge on motorists |
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Published
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Mon, 04 Jul 2005 14:35
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LONDON: Vehicles entering London city are to pay eight pounds from Monday instead of five pounds as existed. The city's administration is expecting to earn annually 45 million pounds more by this increased congestion charge on vehicles. This amount will be reinvested in traffic improvement measures.
The city had introduced the traffic congestion charges in February 2003 which had a fair measure of success in reducing congestion in central London. Traffic experts say it has been to the extent of 30 per cent.
The increase has not been welcomed by the opposition parties and business operators in the city. They feel it will be bad for the business.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said, the increase is expected to maintain the benefits currently experienced and also build on its success, "cutting congestion even further and raising more revenue to be invested in London's transport system".
The conservative opposition has not taken to the increase lightly. Its members say it is bad for businesses and for London's resident too.
The levy, operated by a contractor, Capita Group, claimed to be the biggest in the world, is applicable to a 20.7 sq. km. toll zone area from Hyde Park in the west to Tower Bridge in the east.
Transport for London, the agency that oversees London's public transportation, claimed that about 50,000 fewer cars entered the zone in its first six months of the scheme and the average driving speed went up to 10.3 miles an hour from 8.9 miles an hour.
However, the London Chamber of Commerce, which surveyed 2,159 businesses, said about 84 per cent of retailers say sales have dropped since the charge was introduced.
Dan Bridgett of the London Chamber of Commerce described the increase "damaging and retrograde step which will appall the businesses of all sizes which are already being hammered by the charge".
Roger Evans, a Tory member of the London Assembly, said there is no solid evidence for the claim by the mayor that traffic would return to the centre of the capital if the charge was kept at £5.
Livingstone said there will be discounts for people who pay monthly or annually. Those paying on a monthly basis will get three charge-free days and those paying yearly will get 40 charge-free days.
London has been the first city to levy such a heavy charge on drivers entering the city. Singapore in 1998 had introduced an electronic charging system during rush hours that cut traffic by 13 per cent. In Oslo, driver pay 20 kroner ($3) to drive on certain roads in the city.
The fee is applicable for driving in the prescribed areas between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. It must be paid latest by 10 p.m. on the day of travel. Those who fail to pay face fines of as much as 80 pounds.
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