[sustran] Check the Growth of Private Vehicles

[Sujit Patwardhan]

26 September 2010


About time too!!!
--
Sujit


*Source*:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/High-road-tax-parking-rates-can-reduce-car-use-in-Delhi-CSE/articleshow/6629621.cms

[image: ET Logo.gif]
High road tax, parking rates can reduce car use in Delhi: CSE*
Centre for Science and Environment has suggested to Delhi Government to
check growth of private vehicles and overcome the traffic mess in the city.*


NEW DELHI: Levying of hefty road tax, introduction of congestion charge and
putting high premium on parking are some of the measures the Centre for
Science and Environment has suggested to Delhi Government to check growth of
private vehicles and overcome the traffic mess in the city.

In a letter to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, CSE citing examples of various
cities including London, Stockholm and Tokyo, said experience from across
the world showed that parking controls, parking pricing along with taxes top
the list as first generation car restraint measures.

"With hidden subsidies like low charges for road usage and parking, cars
have completely taken over the road space," the CSE said adding Indian
cities charge a "pittance" for road usage and for parking as compared to
many other world cities which must reverse.

According to statistics, there are nearly 65 lakh vehicles registered in the
city while the total number of vehicles in Delhi is more than the total
number of vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. On an average over 1,000
vehicles are added to the city roads everyday.

Favouring massive spending in further scaling up public transport system,
the CSE said a part of the funding can be met if the cars are made to pay
for the externalities.

"For instance, Stockholm expects to generate equivalent to Rs 366 crore from
congestion charges annually from this year that will be used for transit
development," the CSE said also analysing the situation in major Indian
cities.

Noting that Delhi must tap the revenue streams from "congestion charges and
restraint taxes", the prominent environmental NGO said cars cannot continue
to enjoy direct and hidden subsidy and privileges on roads.

Holding that the growing car volume has resulted in increase in pollution
level in the city, the CSE said right price tag on cars and its usages will
make a difference and encourage people to move to public transport.

The letter said despite having a high car ownership of 350 cars per 1,000
people, Tokyo provides less parking slots --only 0.5 slots per 100 square
metres in commercial buildings. But Delhi with 85 cars per 1,000 people
provides 2 to 3 parking slots per 100 square metres.

"With congestion tax and good public transport, central London has reduced
traffic volume by 25 per cent, congestion by 30 per cent. Singapore with
ownership restrictions has kept the annual car growth rate well within 3 per
cent as opposed to more than 10 per cent in Delhi," the CSE said.

"Indian cities including Delhi have begun to prepare parking policy but this
must include parking controls and pricing to dampen car usage," it said.


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*“..each million we invest into urban motorways is an investment
to destroy the city“*

Mayor Hans Joachim Vogel
Munich 1970

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Sujit Patwardhan
patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com
sujitjp at gmail.com
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