Letters: Taxed for govt's inefficiency

The edit “Declogging the roads” (September 20), though well meaning, gives precisely the kind of excuse that the government uses to hide its inefficiency. A car is not a luxury item any more, nor is it a status symbol. Most people buy cars (and two-wheelers), particularly in big cities, for the bare necessity of commuting to the workplace since there is no efficient public transport. Yet, your edit supports the “solution” of levying “a transport tax and an inner-city surcharge” since these are charged in London and Singapore! It’s worth noting that London and Singapore are taxing their motorists after the governments there have done all that could be done to provide best and optimal transport solutions — which include planning and designing roads and transport systems, efficient public transport services, and so on. In India, when we talk of such a levy, we are in fact saying to the people: “We will not improve the transport system, we will not give you reliable public transport and even after this, if you dare to go to your workplace, we will punish you with such and such tax and surcharge.” The real solution is to improve public transport and the road network and not burden taxpayers.

 

Ravindra Purohit Mumbai

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