[sustran] Re: fowd: Delhi bans old buses

[SAVE BOMBAY COMMITEE]

SAVE BOMBAY COMMITEE wrote:

> Dear Paul,
>
> Your email of  01.04.2000 and your query about the basis for accepting
> tenders.  Normally the lowest quotation meeting with the tender
> requirements used to be accepted when public tenders where issued.
> Now in the corrupt  governance,  limited tenders are issued to friends
> and parties ready  to share financial benefits with the executives.
> The tenders are decided in favour of  friends even though they are not
> the lowest.  Quality of work, better services or less subsidy are no
> more the   criteria.
>
> The news that public buses causing pollution are being withdrawn in
> Delhi following the Supreme Court directive is interesting indeed.
> Where  the administration cannot do or does  not want to do,
> judiciary comes in to bring order.  Let us hope that old  buses are
> totally scrapped and not given to other operators  for other than
> carrying bus passengers.  Quite often,  such  buses are used for
> transporting children or employees.
>
> The authorities could help in conversion from diesel to compressed
> natural gas (CNG) so that the requisite number of buses are available
> for transportation citizens.    The Government of  India has announced
> that the LPG in addition to CNG will be allowed as fuel.
>
> It must however be clear that people will not,  though they should,
> resort to cycling.  Today they   are going over to two wheeler
> motorcycles or three wheeler autorikshaws if they cannot afford second
> hand cars.   In Mumbai,  there is spurt in motor cycles for personal
> transport and autorikshaws replacing taxies.  Motor cycles mount and
> cruise on pavement to bypass vehicular traffic jams on roads.
>
> However much though one  would wish the people to  resort to walking
> for short distances and cycling for commuting  to work or
> othererrands,  I am afraid that cycling will not become the mode for
> movement in burgeoning cities of the developing countries.  Roads are
> crowded up with motor cars.  Taxes on private cars are withdrawn
> giving licence to own and use motor cars freely.Best wishes.   As
> President of the Bomnbay Association of Pedestrians, this unhealthy
> development is not appreciated. Best wishes.
> Kisan Mehta
> President
>
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