Travelling in Uttarakhand will be expensive: Green cess applicable for outside vehicles, know the details

If you’re planning a trip to Uttarakhand, this news is useful. Traveling to Uttarakhand may become more expensive than before. The Dhami government has prepared to implement a green cess on vehicles coming from other states. An order has also been issued.

Green Cess Implemented in Uttarakhand
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the formation of the state of Uttarakhand, the state government has taken a historic step towards environmental protection. The Dhami government has announced the implementation of a green cess (Uttarakhand Green Cess implemented). This cess will be collected from vehicles coming from other states, and the proceeds will be spent on air pollution control, green infrastructure, and smart traffic management. According to the government, this initiative will give Uttarakhand a new identity towards “clean air – healthy life.”

Which vehicles will be exempt from the green cess?
Vehicles coming from outside states will be exempted from the “green cess.” However, electric, hydrogen, solar, and battery vehicles will be exempt. This is expected to generate an annual income of approximately ₹100 crore for the state. This amount will be spent on air monitoring, road dust control, green space expansion, and smart traffic systems.

Road dust is the biggest source of air pollution in Dehradun: Dhakate
Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Member Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), stated that according to the board’s study, road dust (55%) is the biggest source of air pollution in Dehradun, while vehicle emissions (7%) are also a major factor. Controlling road dust through a green cess and adopting a clean vehicle policy will be the most effective steps to improve the city’s air quality.

Uttarakhand cities perform exceptionally well in the Clean Air Survey 2024
Uttarakhand cities performed exceptionally well in the Government of India’s “Clean Air Survey 2024,” with Rishikesh ranking 14th and Dehradun 19th. The state government will use the funds raised from the green cess to further strengthen this achievement. Implementation of Green Cess will lead to reduction in air pollution, improvement in Air Quality Index (AQI), control on old polluting vehicles, promotion of clean fuel based vehicles and improvement in road dust, tree plantation and air monitoring network.