The transport minister has proposed banning new vehicle purchase sans proof of parking availability. Will this work as a fix for our overcrowded city traffic? Unlikely. The dwindling average speed on our roads dropping by 5 per cent every year is likely to be more effective in curbing new vehicle purchase than the proposed scheme.
Our current vehicle ownership is around 60 per 100 persons indicative of about 2.5 per family. Mumbai which has over twice our population is 30 per 100 and that’s feasible due to an efficient public transport system. So clearly there is a need to bring down vehicle ownership levels including the existing ones. So why the scepticism about the proposed ban linked to parking space proof? It’s about implementing the policy. We have no clue about the current linkage between ownership of vehicles and overnight parking space. This database does not exist. So unfortunately, in our ‘jugaad’ world, all it will lead to is a ‘fudge’ about parking space proof and rent seeking behaviour by the officials. The government system just does not have the staff capability to verify the claims.
So, what is the way ahead? For starters, relentless increase of public transport network, more buses, commuter rail, better route planning and last mile connectivity. If the government does that there is a moral case to impose congestion charges, neighbourhood street parking fees and increase in vehicular taxes to control the private vehicular ownership. Singapore (and London) for instance has congestion charges and the vehicular taxes in Singapore are more than the cost of the base vehicle.
Licensing neighbourhood street parking for residents for a fee is another useful way to regulate vehicle purchase. London, for instance has a very evolved street parking system including banning parking on arterial roads. London did something radical for a large office building permission (10,000 people) in the city centre. No car parking except for the handicapped. The message is clear about using public transport or walking. If you bring your vehicle, it’s not welcome!
A token permit system with overall private vehicle ownership ceiling limits with market trading could be a radical idea whose time has come.
V. Ravichandar
@ravichandar
Author is an urban expert,who calls himself the Patron Saint of Lost Causes