Surface transport - roads: Arterial and feeder roads throughout the country built to international standards for heavy traffic loads, and their proper maintenance on ongoing basis, is a must. Unfortunately, our existing roads network is in a poor and dilapidated condition.
Even newly built highways, flyovers, bridges and underpasses are not able to withstand the heavy traffic and are prone to breakdowns. Potholes are a common sight in all major cities and rural areas do not enjoy the luxury of even such a deplorable roads system!
To overcome the problem, it is necessary to invite international construction companies to form joint ventures with local firms and use their expertise and know-how to build autobhans, expressways, bridges, flyovers or underpasses using state-of-the-art technologies and quality materials for constructions that will last for several decades without decay, throughout the country.
To finance such a programme, the government should ask the contractors to undertake the job on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis, and recoup their investment over the agreed period by erecting toll booths along the routes at reasonable points along the stretches to collect fees from vehicles using the roads. This was done in France during Charles de Gaulle's time, a whole network of roads traverses that country, boasting of a highway system of superb quality, which did not cost the French government a sou. Their maintenance is such that even after half-a-century the roads look like they were built yesterday!
On the autobahns and highways (dual carriageways) the minimum speed is 110kms, and anyone driving along in the fast lanes at a slower speed can be fined on the spot for obstructing traffic. Goods traffic moves on long vehicles that can pull two 40 ft containers at a time!. It will be difficult to imagine such a sight on our existing road system.
Another point, mentioned previously, is the rule of the road. To establish links with the rest of civilised world (excluding Britain and their sub-continental colonies of yore) it is vital that we switch to traffic on the "right side of the road". This will facilitate incoming and outgoing traffic at our western borders.
Admittedly, this is not an easy task, and it will take a lot of hard work and patience to effect the switch-over. But it's strategic advantages, particularly in the context of our neighbours on the eastern borders will not be lost on our defence establishment, to say nothing of its civilian windfalls.
The existing vehicles and the local assembly plants will have to undergo a change over time, but eventually the system will be in place. In the interim, the import of new or used vehicles with steerings on the left will gradually replace the existing models. The automobile assembly plants will re-jig their tools to get in line with the preponderant system in most parts of the globe. Our integration with our western neighbours and others (except India, unless they also follow suit) will be complete, and a smooth transition will augur well for the future.
Traffic signals and other paraphernalia, including legislation and rules to give effect to the new dispensation, will have to change. It will take some time to adjust and alter the mindsets and habits of a lifetime, but future generations will readily adapt themselves to the idea. The costs, both in the civilian and military sectors, are going to be enormous, but can be amortised over a number of years. However, raising the initial capital requirements can be achieved by issue of long-term sukook bonds and other instruments, suppliers' credit, bank borrowings and other means, as and when necessary. Levies of taxes on road using vehicles for a certain period can tide over difficulties in the initial stages. Eventually, the old vehicles and equipment will be scrapped or modified to make way for newer models of right sort.
Special instructions courses and mass educational campaigns combined with a sustained media blitz will be necessary to acquaint the general public with the changed regime of movement on roads. Not the least important will be the training of police force, including traffic and highway officials, who must inculcate proper road sense in the general populace as well as the drivers of the vehicles. It may be necessary to conduct wholesale driving tests for everybody, and issue fresh driving licences to only those who qualify, weeding out counterfeit licence-holders and incompetent drivers, specially of heavy vehicles and public transports.
Concurrently with road-building and new vehicles on arterial roads, local transport and mass-transit in megacities need special attention. Introduction of articulated buses and double-deckers, long vehicles, plus a well-planned metro (underground railways) or elevated trains or monorails has to find a way in the scheme of things to eliminate the existing chaos and wasted working hours in traffic gridlocks and/or lack of public transport for masses and commuters.
An efficient, convenient, comfortable and reasonably priced mass-transit system is a burning need of the hour, that has also to take care of future expansions. Overcrowding in city centres cab be avoided if a satisfactory public transport system is in place, run on a public service ideal, and not merely on profit-motive.
That will take care of congestion on roads , and dearth of parking space. A less crowded metropolis will also allow for more public amenities, parks, playgrounds and picnic spots for family outings or social gatherings. A rationalisation of locations for schools, hospitals, markets, offices and other places of public frequencies like courts, government departments, police stations, fire fighting services, etc, etc, can provide more breathing space and curtail atmospheric pollution, besides other advantages including expanded business opportunities, and savings in cost of business, as well as public health concerns.
In tendem with an efficient railway service (providing city centre to city centre connections at both ends) and ease of travel at affordable costs, it will curtail pressure on airlines and improve service all around. An incidental benefit may be elimination of corruption in some of the glaring inadequacies. A clear and serene atmosphere in cities, with no law and order problems (which are mainly a product of slum-dwelling and overcrowded conditions) will be a boon for increased tourism--a valuable foreign exchange earner.
It may not be out of place to mention that certain countries in Europe run entirely on income generated from tourist trade - like Greece and Spain, and other activities for forex generation are an additional bonus.
From a health point of view, a lessening of chaos and resulting ease of pressure and anxieties-major causes of cardiac problems, diabetes and other ailments like cancer, asthma and mental disorders-cannot be underestimated. Overall cumulative effect of such changes will result in heightened productivity at a lesser cost and strains. It is not possible to put a rupee-value on these results, but it can be imagined to be enormous.
(To be continued)