From December, vehicles entering Uttarakhand from other states will be required to pay a green tax, officials confirmed on Saturday. The initiative is part of the state government’s effort to control pollution, protect the environment, and promote cleanliness across the hill state, especially in eco-sensitive zones.
Tax slabs based on vehicle category
According to the new structure, the tax will vary by vehicle type — ₹80 for small vehicles, ₹250 for small cargo vehicles, ₹140 for buses, and between ₹120 and ₹700 for trucks, depending on their weight. The aim is to ensure that heavier, more polluting vehicles contribute proportionally to the state’s environmental protection fund.
Technology-driven monitoring through ANPR cameras
State Additional Transport Commissioner Sanat Kumar Singh stated that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will be the core mechanism for monitoring and charging vehicles. Currently, 37 cameras have been installed at the state’s entry points, up from 16 previously, to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Automated deduction through NPCI integration
The transport department has appointed a vendor company to manage the collection of the tax. The ANPR cameras will capture the registration numbers of incoming vehicles, and the data will be transferred to the vendor’s software system. This system will filter out Uttarakhand-registered, government, and two-wheeler vehicles, forwarding the remaining data to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) database.
Once identified, the wallet numbers of the vehicle owners will be traced, and the applicable green tax amount will be automatically deducted from their linked accounts and deposited into the transport department’s account.
Step towards sustainable mobility
Officials said the initiative is part of a broader push to promote eco-friendly transportation and ensure that visitors and freight carriers contribute to the state’s green maintenance efforts. The government is also exploring ways to incentivize electric and hybrid vehicle use in the coming months.
