I was recently reading an article on this low cost car and the thoughts are worth pondering over. I am sure the Tatas and Bajajs will be successful in bringing out a cost effective car that will make this prestigious mode of transport more affordable to the ever increasing middle class population. It will open a lots of business opportunities to the auto ancillary sector and will have a huge impact on the way we live.
All are fine, but at what cost?? Are we prepared to handle this in terms of infrastructure, petroleum availability and other connected loads?? With the existing traffic already choking most of the Indian roads, where is the space for all these cars to ply?? Will they fly?? Where is the fuel?? What will be the impact on our economy on multiplying our dependence on oil imports?? What will happen to our air quality??
There is a limit to imitating west. In fact, as Thomas Friedman wrote in one of his articles, we should not imitate his country which has become a harbinger of pollution and is incurring billions on health care. We should first build roads, build flyovers, improve the public transport system, and make it more efficient so as to dissuade people from using their own vehicles.
Government should tax such low cost vehicles like crazy. Being employed in the automotive industry, I shouldn’t be suggesting this, but if the future is to be at least at today’s level, if not better, there is no option. The Government should use the tax solely to improve infrastructure and promote fuel efficient techniques. There is already lot of infrastructure tax money available with the Government. This tax shouldn’t go that way. It has to be vested with some Infrastructure Corporation, headed by eminent persons from the Government and Industry, should be free of political interferences and should finish the projects taken in a time bound manner. Based on the level of infrastructure growth, tax can be brought down. Government cannot abdicate its responsibility and forget the infrastructural needs of a growing economy.
All are fine, but at what cost?? Are we prepared to handle this in terms of infrastructure, petroleum availability and other connected loads?? With the existing traffic already choking most of the Indian roads, where is the space for all these cars to ply?? Will they fly?? Where is the fuel?? What will be the impact on our economy on multiplying our dependence on oil imports?? What will happen to our air quality??
There is a limit to imitating west. In fact, as Thomas Friedman wrote in one of his articles, we should not imitate his country which has become a harbinger of pollution and is incurring billions on health care. We should first build roads, build flyovers, improve the public transport system, and make it more efficient so as to dissuade people from using their own vehicles.
Government should tax such low cost vehicles like crazy. Being employed in the automotive industry, I shouldn’t be suggesting this, but if the future is to be at least at today’s level, if not better, there is no option. The Government should use the tax solely to improve infrastructure and promote fuel efficient techniques. There is already lot of infrastructure tax money available with the Government. This tax shouldn’t go that way. It has to be vested with some Infrastructure Corporation, headed by eminent persons from the Government and Industry, should be free of political interferences and should finish the projects taken in a time bound manner. Based on the level of infrastructure growth, tax can be brought down. Government cannot abdicate its responsibility and forget the infrastructural needs of a growing economy.
1 comment:
Ya ..even i read the same article!
But why only tax owner of thoese small cars and bikes..what about gas gugglers..why should they not be taxed...like crazy?Let all those who use four wheeler be taxed..one and all.And before taxing improve road condition please....or atleast demolish all the road seen in between potholes!make it smoooth plain soil road..like in village!
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