[sustran] Re: MMRDA will file PIL to block Tata's Rs1 lakh car

[Lee Schipper]

Let me add that "boon" means "if 1 lakh cars in place of conventional
cars";
bust means "if 1 lakh cars flooding the streets as those who cannot
afford conventional cars get wheels"
Lee

>>> "Lee Schipper" <SCHIPPER at wri.org> 7/9/2007 5:12:58 PM >>>
this is a tough call — the small cars, if clean, slow, safe and
truly
small, could really be a boon IF and ONLY IF there are congesiton
pricing and rational parking regs in effect so that the chaos in
Indian
cities arising from all the two wheelers does'nt suddenly have a much
larger footprint and above all higher fuel use. I have a great picture
of a booth in front of a CICI bank in Pune where a salesman is sitting
under a banner declaring "cheap loans for two wheelers" even though
there is no decent sidewalk in front of that location.

In other words, India has not even caught up with its two wheelers (or
cars) - to leap ahead into 1 lakh cars before really taking a deep
breath would just make roads more and more clogged, and pedestrians
and
bicyclists even more endangered, not to mentioned turning more two
wheeler drivers/riders into victims of l lakh four wheelers. 

>>> "Alan Howes" <alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk> 7/9/2007 4:24:30 PM >>>
But leaving aside the questions of political acceptability, how could
Chandrashekhar ban the 1 lakh car in Greater Mumbai when the rest of
India accepts it?

But I agree with his analysis.

Alan

-- 
Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Anupam Gupta, CLSA 
  To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org 
  Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 7:37 AM
  Subject: [sustran] MMRDA will file PIL to block Tata's Rs1 lakh car


  MMRDA is the regional planning authority for Mumbai. It reports to
the Chief Minister. MMRDA Chief, Dr. T. Chandrashekhar, has an
impressive track record of work in Thane. In Mumbai, he's been caught
between the politicians and the BMC. To give him credit, there's a lot
of work he's had done on the roads. However - and see below - this is
the first time he's taking such a strong stance. The battle between
free
enterprise and urban planning? I'm on the MMRDA chief's side on this
one. I just hope this posturing doesn't ruin his career, because
ultimately its the politicians who are in charge. Somehow I just can't
see this litigation stand in court. Would love your thoughts. 

  http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1108645 


  MMRDA will file PIL to block Tata's Rs1 lakh car
  MUMBAI: When the Tatas launch their Rs1 lakh car some time next
year,
they could face a roadblock in Mumbai. T Chandrashekhar, who heads the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the agency
entrusted with the task of implementing the city's multi-crore
infrastructure projects, says that he would be the first to file a
public interest litigation (PIL) to stop the car's rollout in the
city.


  Chandrashekhar believes that the city will never taste the fruits of
its infrastructure investments unless it rations the use of road space
and private vehicles. "The Tata car cannot be permitted (into the
city)
as it would choke up Mumbai. The low cost would mean that all those
who
can afford bikes will jump into the car segment. Then, no road space
will be enough to hold the sea of vehicles. The city will be doomed,"
he
warns. 

  As metropolitan commissioner, Chandrashekhar is in charge of
redeveloping 150 km of roads in Mumbai, which includes both the
Eastern
and Western Express Highways and the new east-west connecting roads -
the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and the Santa Cruz-Chembur
Link
Road (SCLR). He wants the state government to initiate strict vehicle
rationing. 

  "Today, people are buying vehicles like they purchase chocolates.
Only those citizens who have parking space must be allowed to buy
cars.
There should be a fixed quota of new vehicles sold in Mumbai. And like
London and Paris, the city must levy a congestion tax to de-clog the
roads," he adds. The MMRDA chief cautioned that in the next five
years,
all the roads and flyovers will be inadequate if vehicular growth is
not
controlled. 

  That apart, Chandrashekhar also wants to control the influx of
job-seekers in Mumbai. He wants the city to introduce a work permit
regime in Mumbai. "Only those having a work permit and a valid house
must be provided basic amenities like ration card, telephone
connection
and power supply," he said. 


  Regards,
  Anupam Gupta
  +91 22 6650 5074
  Mobile +91 98204 98981

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SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
(the 'Global South').