Strengthening of public transport is a commonly suggested tool to overcome the pollution menace. Since public transport in the state is irregular and insufficient, it is more convenient for everyone to use his two or four-wheeler. Public transport is also crowded. It is difficult to find a seat in the bus during the morning and evening peak hours. After a hard day’s work, no one wants to travel in a bus by standing. Hence, despite being uneconomical, many people are forced to use their two wheelers. A few of them do bike or car pooling. The government must admit the fact that the number of buses during morning and evening is less compared to the crowd that wants to use public transport. Though the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) was incorporated in 1980 to bring in some discipline in the public transport system, private buses still have the upper hand. The government has not gained control over it. Despite nationalisation of a few routes, the situation has not changed. The government’s move to take private buses in lease is nothing but temporary dressing on the festering wound.
Until and unless there is a strong, reliable and adequate public transport system in the state, the number of vehicles running on the roads will not reduce. The people in European and American countries have consumed the concept of car-pooling, but we are yet to accept it. It is a tough task for the government to organise public transport and make it appealing and attractive for the public. Free transport could be one of the options to do so. This concept may sound new and unattainable. The government had taken a step towards this concept by giving a 70 percent discount on Kadamba passes. The next step was a 100 percent concession. But the government cut short its journey. It might be hard to believe, but a few developed nations experimented and succeeded in attaining their goal by doing so. Luxembourg is the first country in the world to provide free public transport. It was started in 2020. Last year Malta followed suit. As of now, 50 cities in Europe have free public transport. Last week, New Zealand stepped in. The government has made budgetary provisions to provide free transport in seven cities to children aged up to 12 years, and 50 percent concession is given to girls and boys aged between 13 to 23 years.
In order to reduce the number of private vehicles and bring down the carbon emission, and also to control global warming, the idea of free public transport must be backed up strongly. It is easily possible to push this idea in our small state. Initially, concessions can be given in bus fares. Gradually, the bus fare concept can be done away with. The thought behind this concept is that people will give up on their own vehicles if public transport is made free. Not all private vehicles will not go off the road. At least we can expect that the ones using their own vehicles to reach the cities will consider the option once public transport is streamlined. For that, along with free service, adequate and reliable transport must be ensured. At least the routes connected to cities must be provided with such a facility.
Though 2 percent of the globe is occupied by cities, it accounts for 72 percent of overall carbon emission. Out of the total world population, 55 percent reside in cities. In the coming years, the proportion is expected to go upto 70 percent. Hence, it is necessary to take into account the increase in carbon emission accordingly. Hence, free public transport could well be an option. Public transport system needs to be strengthened for the people who travel. If not, the number of private vehicles on roads increases, resulting in higher carbon emission. To stop this, it is necessary to make public transport strong and free. Gardens and grounds are freely available to the public; similarly it is not wrong to expect free public transport. There are not enough reasons to prove that the aim of reducing carbon emission can be achieved by free transport. But the number of private vehicles will decrease. At least the government must take steps towards this. It is a much better option than scrapping all the vehicles that have completed 15 years.
