Banning Old Cars
Dear Editor Sir,
I have recently learnt that government is thinking of banning old cars. Will it be a prudent decision? The government should remember that this country is a poor country and no elitist decision will bear any fruit. Rather, it will damage life and livelihoods of poor and middleclass people. Permit me to give you some examples:
1) Most of the rental car services carrying school-going children use old cars considering cost-effectiveness. In the adequacy of private transports (eg scooters, taxicab, etc) the guardians have to resort to rental car services for sending their children to schools. What would happen to these children if old cars are banned?
2) A huge number of children work in the garages which earn money by repairing mostly old cars. Most of the families of these children depend on the earnings of these children. Banning old cars will reduce their earning and it will push them to poverty situation.
3) A huge amount of trading is dependent on the import and purchase of parts for repairing old cars. Banning old cars will reduce this trading and hence reduce the economic activities based on old cars. At least half of the economic activities of Dolaikhal will be reduced.
4) Majority people of middleclass families can afford only old cars. Old cars ease their lives against a situation where public transport system cannot help them. These families will fall into a helpless condition.
5) The government should remember that at least 70% cars are old and are used directly or indirectly by middleclass and poor people. Also the public transports that carry the middleclass and poor office-goers, are mostly of old cars or vehicles. What would happen to these people if the ban is imposed?
6) A huge number poor drivers will lose there jobs and their families will fall into poverty. Does the government want this?
The government should remember that
What the government can do is to give very strong emphasis on fitness. If the fitness is okay there is no problem with the old cars. There are even cars of the 80s which are giving very efficient service due to better maintenance. If the government becomes very strict on fitness of the cars then people will be serious about the proper maintenance and better efficiency. Make BRTA strict on fitness and traffic system efficient. Impose strict punishment for those who break traffic rules. This will improve traffic system. The government should be strict on improving overall traffic system rather than chop out head to relieve headache. This is the expectation of the middleclass and poor people from the government.
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