Latest news with #ECC
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Toll Booth Removal: Delhi to Eliminate Physical Toll Booths at Borders with New Tech Implementation, ET Infra
Advt Advt In a move that could reduce, if not end, the long queues at the Capital's borders, agencies including Delhi govt, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the road transport ministry on Friday unanimously agreed to remove physical booths on the highways to collect entry fee and green cess from commercial a meeting chaired by Union road transport secretary V Umashankar, it was decided to have Multi-Lane Free Flow (MMLF) toll and entry fee collection system with MCD stating that completely doing away with entry tax would cause revenue loss of around Rs 800 crore annually and severely dent its finances, sources MMLF is deployed, vehicles will not have to stop as overhead cameras across the lanes can read the vehicle registration number and deduct the charge from FASTag wallet linked to the has learnt that there was also unanimity among all agencies to find a solution to the collection of Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) or green cess collected from heavy commercial vehicles entering Delhi at borders, which causes long traffic snarls on NHs and expressways connecting Delhi. The meeting was attended by officials including Delhi chief secretary Dharmendra and MCD commissioner Ashwini said while the municipal corporation has approached the Supreme Court seeking a single unified value for ECC, which would pave the way for integration of FASTag and MCD's RFID tags to collect the green tax and entry fee, Haryana govt has pleaded for stopping ECC collection altogether. They added that now NHAI will also approach the apex court seeking a similar relief citing that now two peripheral expressways are operational for vehicles that are not destined for said road transport minister Nitin Gadkari will soon chair a meeting to take stock of the plan and progress of getting rid of these traffic choke points at Delhi borders. Long traffic jams have become the new normal on NHs and expressways due to physical booths which have been put up for collection of entry fee and ECC at five points - Sirhaul, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Tikri and Kundli. While taxis and trucks are mandated to have a pre-paid instrument, drivers often avoid recharging them and end up paying cash, adding to the meeting also took stock of the progress of the plans to decongest Ashram-Badarpur section of NH-2 and plan for an elevated road from INA to Nelson Mandela Marg near Vasant Kunj and its extension to Gurgaon-Faridabad road. NHAI informed the meeting that the authority has invited bids for preparing detailed project reports for these two roads.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Physical toll booths at city borders to be removed
In a move that could reduce, if not end, the long queues at the Capital's borders, agencies including Delhi govt, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the road transport ministry on Friday unanimously agreed to remove physical booths on the highways to collect entry fee and green cess from commercial vehicles. At a meeting chaired by Union road transport secretary V Umashankar, it was decided to have Multi-Lane Free Flow (MMLF) toll and entry fee collection system with MCD stating that completely doing away with entry tax would cause revenue loss of around Rs 800 crore annually and severely dent its finances, sources said. Once MMLF is deployed, vehicles will not have to stop as overhead cameras across the lanes can read the vehicle registration number and deduct the charge from FASTag wallet linked to the vehicle. TOI has learnt that there was also unanimity among all agencies to find a solution to the collection of Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) or green cess collected from heavy commercial vehicles entering Delhi at borders, which causes long traffic snarls on NHs and expressways connecting Delhi. The meeting was attended by officials including Delhi chief secretary Dharmendra and MCD commissioner Ashwini Kumar. Officials said while the municipal corporation has approached the Supreme Court seeking a single unified value for ECC, which would pave the way for integration of FASTag and MCD's RFID tags to collect the green tax and entry fee, Haryana govt has pleaded for stopping ECC collection altogether. They added that now NHAI will also approach the apex court seeking a similar relief citing that now two peripheral expressways are operational for vehicles that are not destined for Delhi. Sources said road transport minister Nitin Gadkari will soon chair a meeting to take stock of the plan and progress of getting rid of these traffic choke points at Delhi borders. Long traffic jams have become the new normal on NHs and expressways due to physical booths which have been put up for collection of entry fee and ECC at five points - Sirhaul, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Tikri and Kundli. While taxis and trucks are mandated to have a pre-paid instrument, drivers often avoid recharging them and end up paying cash, adding to the chaos. The meeting also took stock of the progress of the plans to decongest Ashram-Badarpur section of NH-2 and plan for an elevated road from INA to Nelson Mandela Marg near Vasant Kunj and its extension to Gurgaon-Faridabad road. NHAI informed the meeting that the authority has invited bids for preparing detailed project reports for these two roads.
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ministry seeks ECC nod for new OMCs, dealers' digitisation
KARACHI: The Petroleum ministry is set to send a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), in near future, for imposition of additional fees for oil marketing companies (OMCs) and dealers to digitize supply chain and petrol pumps in a bid to curb fuel smuggling. While talking to the media during his visit to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) on Friday, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said that the additional fee will be added to the price of petroleum products. However, he claimed that the imposition of fees would not lead to an increase in fuel prices. He mentioned plans to digitize the petrol pumps and supply chain system within the next 6-12 months. Minister said that the cost will be utilized to digitize vehicles transporting oil to pumps and petrol pumps to detect and discard smuggled diesel and other petroleum products. The digitization plan involves using radar-based technology, digital nozzles, and installation of CCTV cameras to monitor the supply chain. For this, the ministry will send a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) within two months, seeking approval for the additional fee, which is expected to be around Rs1.35 per liter for OMCs and Rs1.40 per liter for dealers. The minister elaborated that the government has already registered all petroleum products nationwide in phase-I and plans to fully digitize trucks transporting petroleum products over the next two to three months. The nozzles will also be fully digitized in the next few months. The minister highlighted the importance of ensuring a consistent supply chain of energy products, making them competitive in the international market, and ensuring sustainability. He also mentioned the upgrading of the oil refineries to produce clean energy for a better environment. Malik further informed that the government is working to curb smuggled diesel with the help of border law enforcement forces and restructure the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) as well. Federal Minister for Energy Pervaiz Malik has expressed optimism about the country's economy, citing signs of early recovery in the form of lower inflation, reduced electricity tariffs, and decreased petroleum and diesel prices. In a press briefing at SSGC head office on Friday, Malik also acknowledged that the government still faces significant challenges, particularly in the energy sector. 'Accumulation of circular debt and stopping losses in the gas sector are complex issues that require immediate attention,' he said. Despite these challenges, Malik expressed confidence that the government is making progress. 'We want to put Pakistan on a sustainable, inclusive, developed, and climate-friendly journey, and for this, the energy sector is being organized,' he said. However, Malik expressed concern over power producers not honoring their commitments to lift imported gas (RLNG) for electricity generation, which is contributing to the circular debt. The ministry might consider acquiring bank loans to reduce the circular debt, he added. The minister emphasized that the government is committed to providing relief to the public and ensuring the country's economic progress. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Tairāwhiti Knowledge Share With Cooks Islands
Press Release – Gisborne District Council The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. A small delegation from the Cook Islands emergency management team are heading out of the region buoyed by what they hope they can introduce to their country after visiting Tairāwhiti Civil Defence. Technical coordinator Stephano Tou and planning and advisory coordinator Ella Napara had a whistle stop visit to Tairāwhiti as part of their NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) supported trip to New Zealand which also included stop-offs in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'I am already thinking about how we can replicate some of the systems Tairāwhiti has in place, using the tools we have available to us,' said Mr Tou. 'We came here to see the ECC (Emergency Coordination Centre) design concept and the tools being used. We'll be taking from it the things that are suitable for us.' TEMO general manager Ben Green and readiness and operations manager Marcus Tibble showed the visitors the state of the art desalination units, the solar powered stations and a 50-litre water heater, as well as the award-winning COP (Common Operating Picture) among other things at the centre. 'Many of these are not things we have in the Cook Islands,' said Mr Tau, who loved the self-sustainability the equipment provided a community. 'It is very relatable here in terms of the population and challenges faced.' Mr Green had underlined the importance of not relying on a national system in times of crisis. 'It is good Ben recognises that and plans with that in mind.' Mr Tou had built an internationally award winning dashboard but wanted to take it to the next level based on what he had seen in Tairāwhiti. Ben Green said the visit was a win-win. 'We gain just as much when hosting international groups given our dispersed communities as well as the region being subject to being cut off,' said Mr Green. 'We often take for granted what resources and capabilities we have developed and imbedded here in Tairāwhiti, however and in context of the South Pacific, we actively collaborate with one another on the back of these events' Ms Napara said it had been an amazing trip. 'It is blowing my mind in a good way,' she said. 'I like the systems here (in Tairāwhiti) – they are so impressive. Everything is there right at your fingertips. We want to build a system where all the data is collected and saved.' The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. The visitors were hugely grateful to NEMA and the Cook Islands government for their support for the trip.
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Tairāwhiti Knowledge Share With Cooks Islands
Press Release – Gisborne District Council The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. A small delegation from the Cook Islands emergency management team are heading out of the region buoyed by what they hope they can introduce to their country after visiting Tairāwhiti Civil Defence. Technical coordinator Stephano Tou and planning and advisory coordinator Ella Napara had a whistle stop visit to Tairāwhiti as part of their NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) supported trip to New Zealand which also included stop-offs in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'I am already thinking about how we can replicate some of the systems Tairāwhiti has in place, using the tools we have available to us,' said Mr Tou. 'We came here to see the ECC (Emergency Coordination Centre) design concept and the tools being used. We'll be taking from it the things that are suitable for us.' TEMO general manager Ben Green and readiness and operations manager Marcus Tibble showed the visitors the state of the art desalination units, the solar powered stations and a 50-litre water heater, as well as the award-winning COP (Common Operating Picture) among other things at the centre. 'Many of these are not things we have in the Cook Islands,' said Mr Tau, who loved the self-sustainability the equipment provided a community. 'It is very relatable here in terms of the population and challenges faced.' Mr Green had underlined the importance of not relying on a national system in times of crisis. 'It is good Ben recognises that and plans with that in mind.' Mr Tou had built an internationally award winning dashboard but wanted to take it to the next level based on what he had seen in Tairāwhiti. Ben Green said the visit was a win-win. 'We gain just as much when hosting international groups given our dispersed communities as well as the region being subject to being cut off,' said Mr Green. 'We often take for granted what resources and capabilities we have developed and imbedded here in Tairāwhiti, however and in context of the South Pacific, we actively collaborate with one another on the back of these events' Ms Napara said it had been an amazing trip. 'It is blowing my mind in a good way,' she said. 'I like the systems here (in Tairāwhiti) – they are so impressive. Everything is there right at your fingertips. We want to build a system where all the data is collected and saved.' The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. The visitors were hugely grateful to NEMA and the Cook Islands government for their support for the trip.
