Congestion fee and the Indian Government

                           

 

‘Get ready to pay congestion fee’ is the title of the news item in the New Indian Express which caught my attention. According to the article, the Union Urban Development Department has written to the Secretaries of all Indian cities to introduce congestion charge scheme in Indian cities. The article mentions cities like London, New York, Milan and Singapore where the fee has been imposed successfully. True, but it must be borne in mind that in these countries, the respective governments have gone all out to provide comforts and amenities to the people before imposing taxes upon them.

    Travelling by the tube or the bus in London is a pleasure. All the buses and coaches are air conditioned. There are announcements before every stop. Plush ,cushioned seats, table tops where you can have your meals, read or even conduct meetings, the  schedule of buses and trains at bus stops and railway stations, sophisticated rail gates and  ticket windows are some facilities installed to ensure that the commuter’s time does not get wasted. Since the daily commuters spend a lion’s share of their lives commuting by rail or by road, all amenities are provided to make public transport easy, comfortable and convenient. Besides connectivity is an additional plus point.

  Now consider the case of India.  In an over populated country like ours, the public transport system, even without the congestion fee is invariably over crowded. That is one reason why people prefer private vehicles, in spite of the escalating fuel charges. In the peak hours we can see heavily over crowded buses with people precariously perched on the foot boards. Many drivers find pleasure in making the people run a mile before they can board the buses. Instances of eve teasing, sexual harassment and accidents while boarding and alighting are dampeners which discourage people from using the public transport. In some cities, A/C buses have been introduced but the connectivity is so poor that you tend to lose patience waiting for these buses. Besides, waiting in the shabby sheds which pass for bus stands, under the scorching sun is so torturous that getting into the next available bus, whether a/c non a/c, private or a dilapidated mockery of a bus is the only  option we have.

   Two other funny alternatives are suggested in the article to combat the over crowding of vehicles- walking and cycling. In a cold country like England, walking and cycling are welcome exercises. But in a hot country like India, these are sure shot methods to get sunstroke and sunburn, notwithstanding all the sun screens and fairness creams available in the market. I am sure most of us would rather pay congestion charges than get baked alive. And that is exactly the sentiment that the powers- that- be intend to exploit. Extract more money out of the poor tax payer without giving him the benefit for his money.

  A caring, responsible government should look out for the comfort of the tax payer before levying taxes If  we  have  a sophisticated and convenient public transport system, why should the people bother to travel by private vehicles? In the Middle Eastern countries like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I have seen bus stands and over bridges which are air conditioned. Given that these countries are intensely warm, this is how the government looks after the needs and comforts of the people. With the monsoons playing pranks with the land, even Kerala is turning into a veritable desert .But such comforts exist only in our  dreams. And now the Government is thinking of snatching away the comfort of our own vehicles by imposing congestion charges in addition to the hike in fuel charges every other day. Whither, India? Or should I say- wither, India..