We all the friends in the groups were discussing about the launch of new car - Nano - from TATA. The discussion was started with an obvious question, what do you guys think about its success? Well, it is a great achievement from the perspective that we can zip in the technology with performance (20+ kms/ltr) in an affordable price. I mean a car (of whatever size) in $2500 is unique. It's not available anywhere in the world today!
But at the same time, what about the roads to accommodate these cars? I think we are going to struggle heavily in coming times for the space on the road to drive these Nano(s). Especially in Pune (and elsewhere in the country too) we are already feeling the pinch of current traffic. There is an urgent need to think about the solutions for the increasing traffic problems. Else we are going to suffer for sure and even 'Pico' will not solve the problem.
Why all the debate/speculation after the launch of Nano has errupted is mainly because of its price tag (Rs. 1 lakh OR $2500). Below are some of the points that I would like to highlight.
If Tata has produced the Nano just to prove that it can be done, its wrong. Even Dr. Rajendra Pachauri has criticized the move - in the spirit of true environmentalist - to launch the car like Nano (ref: click here, here and here). There are many speculations like; the Nano will reduce the price of to wheelers. Nano is Euro IV car, it will have lesser pollutions compare to millions of two wheelers on the road today. Have we really though about the implications of above side effects of the Nano? The answer is NO. What if the price of two wheelers reduces? Don't you think that there will be rise in two wheeler sell due to this? If the launch of car like Nano is going to fulfill the dream of the middle class families to have their own car, won't the reduction of two wheeler prices fulfill the dream of lower middle class families to have their own two wheeler (where today they can manage just a bicycle)? If Nano is not going to increase in the air pollution (due to its Euro IV capability), what is the guarantee that it will reduce the number of two wheelers on the Indian roads? Coming to the fuel consumption, Nano is just giving the milage of 20KMs/Litre. Where as an average two wheeler gives you 50+KMs/Litre. There will be rise in the demand for automobile fuel (where India heavily depends on outside world). Have we thought about this aspect? Indian roads (except for few cities) are not prepared for more traffic today. There is no enough arrangement for the parking in most of the commercial market places. City roads choke every single hour creating long traffic queues. I would like to mention here very recent example of - unplanned, under-studied infrastructure growth - fire in Kolkata on Nandaram Complex building. There are many other reasons for this fire, but one comment (ref: click here) is very much important to note.
"The congestion of the roads and lack of proper building plans of the fire-engulfed buildings were adding to the problem, Chatterjee claimed."
There is another point being discussed that this car will reduce (hopefully) or can be thought of as an alternative to the auto rickshaw running on the roads. But this is picture I think is far from reality. Replacing some existing public transport (like auto rickshaw) in a short span of time is virtually impossible. Also I do not think that TATA has ever thought of (from its design perspective) this car to be used for such an alternative. Even if it is considered as a replacement, what will be the fate of six seater rickshaw. Its a complex scene for sure.
It is not a question whether we can produce a car like Nano or not? But there are many more important issues to address for us. I do not have any kind of doubt on the capability of Indian Engineering, but I think it is not the right time for such an introduction.
