Satellite cities answer to traffic snarls – Comment
View(s):Many years ago, young people preparing for marriage felt owning a house should be the first priority, according to motor traders who have a knack of analysing purchasing patterns in Sri Lanka. A few years later, this ‘first’ priority changed to acquiring a vehicle; motor cycle or car.
Earlier this year, a 10,000 rupee-increase in public sector monthly salaries saw a surge in vehicle purchases, particularly small cars, by a younger generation enamoured by fast cars, fads and money in the pockets, so much so that a small car importer had a waiting list of almost 4,000 applicants.
While the salary hike was to make up for rising costs of living and/or encourage savings, the government strategy worked in reserve resulting in huge spending on new vehicles, and, additionally, triggering a bigger hole in foreign exchange reserves. Easy 100 per cent leasing facilities also encouraged potential new owners to order vehicles without any investment, not realising the dangers ahead that maintaining a vehicle is very, very costly.
Additionally, traffic jams across the city implied there had been a sharp rise in new vehicles, with some traffic policemen literally scratching their heads on how to handle traffic flows. In some instances some policemen, unable to manage chock-a-block traffic, were seen ‘hiding’ behind a pillar near traffic lights hoping the traffic would be sorted out by motorists themselves.
In a desperate bid to plug a hole in rising vehicle imports (and foreign currency outflows) while making it more expensive, the Government depreciated the rupee, restricted leasing facilities, suspended a special car permit incentive scheme to ‘loyal’ taxpayers while plans are underway to increase import tax on vehicles.
All these measures are, according to the trade, likely to reduce vehicle imports by 20 per cent in coming months.
However would these moves help the Government tackle road congestion and curb the outflow of foreign cash? Further, it is depriving the young, (mid income) middle class from acquiring a car by making it beyond their reach, an equitable solution and fair to all?
Should not the Government at the same time seriously consider a public transportation strategy after indepth study on improving public transport – rail, road, air (cheaper access will reduce long distance travel on the roads) – so that Sri Lankans, weary with crowded buses and trains, have access to an efficient system on par with some of the developed countries? Even some Indian cities – Mumbai for example – have an efficient rail transport system where fast and slow trains are constantly on the move. At any Mumbai station, when one train leaves the platform, another train arrives within minutes during peak hours. Many car-owning commuters use the train which is efficient even though crowded.
Separately the Government is also considering banning old, unroadworthy vehicles from the roads and that’s over a million vehicles (mostly cars), according to a Business Times story. This however won’t apply to ‘old crocs’, vehicles that are put on the roads only on occasion.
The number of luxury and super luxury vehicles has also increased but this category is unlikely to take a hit from the new, preventive steps by the Government as it’s only the rich and famous who own such vehicles. This category is made up of at least 600 vehicles (10 per cent) out of a total of 6,000 vehicles imported per month. These are larger-than-normal cars/jeeps and require more space on the roads particularly Colombo where most of these vehicles are used.
Present measures introduced by the government to curb the twin problem of a rising vehicle population and eroding foreign exchange reserves are short term and unlikely to succeed on the long run. Higher import taxes on vehicles have an-and-off been introduced earlier which see an immediate drop in demand but then picks up again.
The root cause is and has been the lack of an efficient public transportation system. Expressways have come up while a recently-opened outer circle highway will help ease congestion but again short term solutions. Some countries like Singapore have imposed high taxes when entering the city but compensated the public with a superb bus and rail transport service which makes it not only quicker but cheaper than running one’s own car. In addition, all the facilities like supermarkets, malls, entertainment, industry and supporting infrastructure are available in the suburbs which may not be the case in a country like Sri Lanka which needs satellite cities connected to Colombo.
For instance, many car users do their shopping and other purchases while in Colombo (where most of the workplaces are located) while going to work or on their way home. That may be one of the reasons why an effort to run a shuttle service from Moratuwa to the city with people leaving their vehicles at a parking lot and taking the shuttle was not very successful. These are notable efforts but need to be built into a mega coordinated plan worked out at the same time, not at different times.
For example, lesser vehicles on the roads would only happen if there is a comfortable inner city public service – rail and road -, not a lone shuttle service operating. The monorail services should be actively promoted at the same time while a rapid transport system has also been spoken of. However there appears to be a lack of coordination in all these efforts and state agencies involved in this exercise should work together under one master plan for urban city transportation. It should come under the Prime Minister’s office for more effective coordination.
If an efficient road and rail transport service is implemented, motorists will leave their vehicles at home or at a nearby, secured parking lot and use public transport. A toll should be levied on vehicles entering normally crowded areas in the city. However all these measures should be in place only if the supporting infrastructure is up and running. In futuristic Sri Lanka, the number of vehicle purchases may not drop sharply but these vehicles would mostly be used for running in Colombo suburbs and outside where there is far less congestion than the capital.
All these suggestions on road transportation, curbing traffic flows and proper infrastructure have not emerged all of a sudden but suggested by many planners and engineers from institutes like the Moratuwa University’s Transport Department over the years. What stood in the way of implementation? Politics, officialdom and indifference to looming issues!
Satellite cities are the answer to the problem which hopefully would be addressed in the western megapolis initiative. Until then don’t expect the latest 5-6 point plan to ease traffic on the long term or substantially cut vehicle imports.