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

[Debi Goenka]

Hi all

Just a few more points to add to this discussion -

1. The Committee appointed by the Bombay High Court (the Lal Committee) had recommended a traffic restraint scheme for the island city based on number plates - the idea was to get 20% of the privately owned vehicles off the roads in the island city of Mumbai during week days. This issue is still to be decided by the Court.

2. I do not think Dr Chandrashekhar can file a PIL on this issue unless he gets prior permission of Government, or unless he resigns, or retires. I wonder if any of these options are being contemplated at the moment.

3. However, as Metropolitan Commissioner, he can make recommendations for modification of the Regional Plan so that private transport use in Mumbai, which is a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, can be regulated. Nothing is actually stopping him from doing this. These recommendations could include traffic restraint schemes. congestion pricing, availability of mandatory off road parking for new vehicles, higher parking charges, etc. -- in short, the works!! Why is this option not being explored? 

4. The Regional Plan can also address issues of public transport vs private transport, and look at options of upgrading suburban trains, public bus systems, BRT, etc. Issues such as flyovers, elevated roads, sea links, etc can also be addressed through this process.

Cheers

Debi

PS I am also wondering how Dr C would react if Reliance decided to make a Rs. 99,999 car! 



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sujit Patwardhan 
  To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:21 AM
  Subject: [sustran] Re: MMRDA will file PIL to block Tata's Rs1 lakh car


  10 July 2007



  I don't think our democratic constitution will permit such a ban, which can be prevented on grounds of unjustified discrimination (unless lack of safety is cited as the reason and can be proved to be true) but the idea for automobile restriction will hopefully become possible to sell at least in some form, to our policy makers who are selectively ignorant to the consequences of auto domination. 

  It may become possible to force them to admit that auto-mania needs to be countered in the interest of the majority of population which is the sufferer.  And as Walter rightly points out there are other options - we could start by charging heavy levies on fuel guzzlers and high polluting vehicles, as well as tightening parking controls (something totally contradictory to present policy of searching for parking spaces even under ones bed!! 
  :-)
  --
  Sujit Patwardhan
  Parisar/PTTF
  Pune, India


   





  On 7/10/07, Walter Hook <whook at itdp.org > wrote: 
    The spirit is good, but the means seems very wrong headed to me.  What is the legal precedent?  That governments should be allowed to ban certain categories of vehicles from city streets if the price of the vehicle is too low?  This is outrageous.  A 1 lak car consumes no more road space than a car costing much more.  



    I would encourage the MMRDA to look into traffic cells, congestion charging and market-oriented parking charges as more rational policies for allocating scarce public road space in Mumbai.



    Walter 



    -----Original Message-----
    From: sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org at list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org at list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Alan Howes
    Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 4:25 PM
    To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport
    Subject: [sustran] Re: MMRDA will file PIL to block Tata's Rs1 lakh car



    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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  Sujit Patwardhan
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  sujitjp at gmail.com

  "Yamuna", 
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