The experiment to allow cars having odd-even number plates on alternate days may be great from social perspective. It may help reduce both traffic and pollution over time. For most Delhiites, it may be about getting accustomed to a mode of transport they are simply not used to – public transport. Even those using radio taxis and car pools may have to get used to being without the comfort of their own vehicles. Nevertheless, both these challenges may eventually fade away.
The risk that is being underrated is the economic impact of this necessary social revolution. Fewer cars on the road is an ideal scenario for a growing metropolis. However, companies hoping to sell more cars in the metropolis have a huge roadblock to overcome. Now it’s hardly certain whether the Delhi experiment will be successful. Nor do we know if other metros will want to emulate it. But such government and regulatory actions should be an eye opener for investors. It is high time we realise the realities of life before buying a car.
Calicut Krishnan
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
