Delhi Master Plan 2047 floats congestion charges for Old Delhi, CP and Metro catchments

Private vehicles entering Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place or selected Metro catchments could eventually face a congestion charge under Delhi’s Master Plan 2047.

The plan names three potential zones: transit-oriented development catchments around Metro or other mass-transit stations; the Walled City Heritage Zone, covering areas including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Jama Masjid and Chawri Bazar; and the Metropolitan City Centre, which includes Connaught Place, Janpath and Karol Bagh.

It says radio frequency identification tags may be considered to enforce any future scheme. Parking charges could also change by location and time of day, making it costlier to park in the busiest parts of the city at peak periods.

For now, the proposal does not change what motorists pay. Union housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said there is no immediate plan to introduce congestion pricing in Delhi.

The idea sits within the wider Master Plan 2047, which sets out Delhi’s long-term housing, land-use and mobility framework.