Prashanta Ch. Panda and Reet Khanuja, January 10, 2016 

Bhubaneswar not far behind

Odisha’s capital Bhuabneswar is definitely looking at how Delhi is coping with the menace of traffic and related pollution. Vehicular population of the capital city has increased by more than three times in 10 years, total number of vehicles in the city is more than 10 lakhs. The number has increased from 22,244 in 2004 to 1, 10,788 in 2014. Within 10 years goods vehicle increased from 9,556 to 39,758, bus from 1,586 to 3,151, taxi from 6,236 to 18,174, jeep from 4,816 to 12,384 , auto rickshaw from 8,390 to 27,943 , tractor from 5,159 to 14,988 and others from 2,895 to 8,423 by 2014. A car carries only 1.5 persons as opposed to a bus carrying at least 40-50 people. On an average two cars occupy same space as one bus and carry three persons.

Thirty years back city had few four wheelers, fortunate few had two wheelers. Thne number of two wheelers shot up with time to facilitate communication and business. Three-wheelers joined the race to serve the growing commuters as Bus Service had limitations and end points were not served. Cycle rickshaws are rare scenes today. End point connectivity is served by auto-rickshaws. Now-a-days when you move out to the city roads you find fourwheelers outweigh two wheelers. The share of personal vehicles is definite to exceed the share of sustainable commuting in few years time.

The City has lost greens surrounding roads due to the expansion. We again need huge investment to provide more roads and certainly a ring road at the expense of green coverage. We have escaped fog and smog due to average winter and absence of industrial pollution. But vehicle and construction and small particle pollution has affected newborns and young kids. Driving seems to be a less of a comfort from 9 am to 7 pm at major points. And we don’t want a smart concrete city to facilitate personal vehicle space only.

Delhi Suffering

Discussing Delhi in this winter, smog has really affected the city economy and lifestyle. Air Pollution is contributed by vehicles, industry, and the agricultural activities in and around National Capital Region has created havoc in Delhi in this December. Perhaps we are little early to say that. 20 million Dehlites are exposed to between 15 to 20 times higher than desirable level of air pollution every day (over 153 micrograms per cubic metre of 2.5 particulate matters). We all know that attaining permissible standards will be an extremely difficult task. Survey says Delhi sees eighty-eight lakh cars and two-wheelers every day, including ones which enter from neighboring states.

A move like odd registered no. of four wheelers to ply on odd dates has been initiated. Disruptive innovations are on the way. Delhi must be equally divided rejoicing the thoughts of likely greener environment for future and ruing the scenario of reduced pace and comforts. On health parameters and on ensuring smooth traffic a herculean task is awaited. It is time to take note of likely public reactions and government preparations. Future investment in the capital city state will show more of coherent strategy by the Government and Delhites. Other big cities of India are eagerly reading the cope up mechanisms as well as the infrastructure and stress bottlenecks.

Capital city state is sending new message of defining and putting a cap on luxury items to the public. Delhi has more than 901 lakh registered vehicles over the years. Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport. This is going to be huge challenge. Even and Odd formula is throwing out 15% of commuters every alternate day. And this class is used to have the luxury of four wheelers. Roughly around 10 lakh commuters will be adding pressure to the auto-rickshaws, taxis, metro and DTC buses. It can jump by another 50% the moment 2 wheelers are dragged into the restrictions. The four wheelers section includes moneyed person, businessman and professionals like doctors, advocates, journalists, or even from emergency services. This is definitely difficult task for professionals working within deadline. As such these services are overcrowded. Last mile of connectivity to office space or even to homes has real bottlenecks at many places. Requirements for professional growth for many including females and the efficiency of the overall system is again to be helped with array of measures to make it business friendly.

Mammoth Task

Almost 25 lakh people travel on Metro trains and 41 lakh use DTC buses. The availability of public transport (buses and Metro) in Delhi per 1,000 people is a shocking half a bus. (CNG)-fueled buses , private Blueline bus operators and chartered bus operators totaling around 7000 need few more thousand fleets. Only 34% of the buses make the cut as far as urban bus specifications are concerned. Delhi Metro operates 966 coaches daily. Capacitywise this is equivalent to adding an equivalent of 2,898 buses. Naturally these services are overcrowded. In addition buses struggle to be in time. Senior citizens, disabled, women professionals have their own adjustment problem.

We must applaud Delhi people to abide by the rules for a week. For a just society ability to pay theory is now rightly equated with ability to bear the pain of adjustment. Principle of just democracy for greater goods, restricting negative externalities of growth and certain expenditures are put into practice alongwith popular policies. Congress and BJP are playing as constructive opposition to such rule till now as it is for 15 day trail. There is no immediate alternatives after Supreme Court dictate. A penalty of Rs. 2000.00 is most probably working to restrict private cars bearing odd registration plates to ply on odd dates. It is good to hear from some that the traffic on roads has been reduced. It will augur good for the government if the knee – jerk reaction to pollution by the state government divide the public opinion after the initial 15 days trial. Greater provisions are to be made for cyclists and by increasing metro feeder buses to take care of last mile connectivity. We have infrastructure bottlenecks here. Let us see how many continues to talks of public good, public utility and public consciousness when the drive from home to office and back appears difficult than the earlier days.

Innovation is on the way

As the density of commuters increases on the available services, the market is bound to throw surprise innovation on the use of the limited resources. Both public and companies are trying to sort out travel issues. Bottlenecks and common difficulty in transport infrastructure is forcing Delhites to raise their level of ethics and community feeling. Individual and private car pooling efforts are on. Sensing the new business opportunities Ola, Uber have started offering carpooling services. Apps designed for the purpose come in handy for Delhites during odd-even days. Given that government extending the trial days steady volume emerges for better solutions including for the last connectivity issues. Women specific solutions can also be emerged as more and more are registered for such services. Sharing of this database by different service providers can increase their efficiency, earning and public trust.

Volunteers engaged for the purpose by the Delhi government can be used create additional trust in female commuters. Police services and internet, wifi connectivity may allow swift actions in case of any mishaps. This can somewhat relieve the fear of travelling with strangers for many especially women and girls. Private cars can also use Ola’s app for their group. Offices need to be close their operation by 7 pm except for essential services. Government may think of some tax rebates to compensate the difficulties and encourage such practices. If Government sustains such pressure demand for hybrid cars and electronic vehicles will rise in this falling oil price markets. If the pressure to revert back to no regulations can be fought with designing alternatives then only benefit can be realized with time. We can improvement in the air quality standard to the satisfaction of all.

Prashanta Chandra Panda is Professor of Economics, KIIT University; Miss Reet Khanuja is pursuing MBA at KIIT University.