By the beginning of next month, 20 Indian cities will have switched to Bharat Stage 4 (BS IV) emission norms — fuel sold in these areas will be less liable to pollute. More stringent emission norms, already applicable in the bigger cities, are critical in a country where a car is among key possessions, given rising aspirations. And, thanks to the state of public transport in most areas, two-, three- and more car families are becoming the norm.
Delhi’s Metro is credited with transforming the city, but support services are inadequate, persuading people to continue using their cars. Mumbai’s trains, appallingly spartan, are mightily overcrowded.
The urban renewal programme has put more buses on roads, but if cleaner air is the aim, local governments need to be more imaginative about making all the mass transit bits and pieces work in unison. Boosting sales of cars is one thing; forcing people to resort to them on a daily basis is quite another.
Also Read | Twenty Indian cities to switch to BS IV emission norms by 1 Mar