– NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday questioned how much had been done to address Delhi’s air pollution problem through the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) collected from vehicles. He also pointed out that collection of municipal toll and ECC at Delhi’s borders by stopping vehicles on National Highways (NHs) defeats the aim of seamless travel, undermines huge investments made by central govt on road infrastructure and gives NHAI a bad name.Addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) or barrier-less tolling at Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza on UER-II, Gadkari said that despite huge investments by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to improve city’s road network, people face one major problem: “That is, collection of green cess (read ECC). I don’t want to make any comment on the order for collection of such cess. But toll collectors come to our NHs and stop vehicles. The green cess was introduced so that the amount collected is utilised to mitigate Delhi’s air pollution. I won’t like to comment on how much work has been done with the Rs 800 or 900 crore collected as such cess.”The minister said he had earlier urged Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and is now urging local MPs to take up this issue as collection of any fee by blocking traffic nullifies govt’s efforts to make travel seamless. “The MCD is facing financial issues. The Delhi govt can help it with the fund. Otherwise, if the city govt gives GST exemptions for the works we are carrying out, we can pay that amount. We must take steps to end the problems that people face. People blame us whereas we have no role in this,” Gadkari said.At a review meeting in June last year, the minister had suggested to Delhi CM and Lt Governor removal of physical entry fee collection points on city’s borders, calling them a “nuisance” for commuters.Gadkari also urged commuters to follow traffic rules, warning them that details of violators, with proof captured on cameras, would be shared with Delhi and Haryana authorities for action.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System FailureNEET-UG Cancelled, Anand Kumar Demands China-Like Crackdown On Coaching System ReformsNEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Probe Finds Major Question Matches In Leak PDFUdhayanidhi Stalin’s Fresh ‘Eradicate Sanatan Dharma’ Remark Triggers Massive BJP Backlash In TNNTA Scraps NEET UG 2026 Over ‘Guess Paper’ Leak, Re-Exam Dates To Be Announced | Watch123Photostories5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversyKaran Kundrra- Tejasswi Prakash’s dreamy love story: Becoming friends in Bigg Boss 15 to buying a house together in DubaiOTT releases this week (May 11-17, 2026): ‘Kartavya’, ‘Berlin’, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ lead the lineup10 proven ways to sharpen your concentration and focus at work123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar
NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday questioned how much had been done to address Delhi’s air pollution problem through the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) collected from vehicles. He also pointed out that collection of municipal toll and ECC at Delhi’s borders by stopping vehicles on National Highways (NHs) defeats the aim of seamless travel, undermines huge investments made by central govt on road infrastructure and gives NHAI a bad name.Addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) or barrier-less tolling at Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza on UER-II, Gadkari said that despite huge investments by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to improve city’s road network, people face one major problem: “That is, collection of green cess (read ECC). I don’t want to make any comment on the order for collection of such cess. But toll collectors come to our NHs and stop vehicles. The green cess was introduced so that the amount collected is utilised to mitigate Delhi’s air pollution. I won’t like to comment on how much work has been done with the Rs 800 or 900 crore collected as such cess.”The minister said he had earlier urged Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and is now urging local MPs to take up this issue as collection of any fee by blocking traffic nullifies govt’s efforts to make travel seamless. “The MCD is facing financial issues. The Delhi govt can help it with the fund. Otherwise, if the city govt gives GST exemptions for the works we are carrying out, we can pay that amount. We must take steps to end the problems that people face. People blame us whereas we have no role in this,” Gadkari said.At a review meeting in June last year, the minister had suggested to Delhi CM and Lt Governor removal of physical entry fee collection points on city’s borders, calling them a “nuisance” for commuters.Gadkari also urged commuters to follow traffic rules, warning them that details of violators, with proof captured on cameras, would be shared with Delhi and Haryana authorities for action.