India, March 13 -- Heavy and light commercial vehicles, including trucks, vans and dumpers, entering Delhi will have to pay higher environment compensation charges (ECC) from April 1 after the Supreme Court on Thursday approved a proposal by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to enhance the levy with the objective of restoring its "deterrent effect" and discouraging heavy commercial vehicles from passing through the national capital.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi accepted CAQM's proposal to increase ECC for light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks from Rs.1,400 to Rs.2,000, while the charge for three-axle trucks and vehicles with four or more axle...