The traffic woes in India are back to pre-pandemic levels, turning ideas towards places where the wheels keep rolling for most of the time. Monitoring the policy should be Singapore, which is an avid user of road rationing. Its mixed model combines market instruments with a license raj. Not only does it charge for road access, but it limits the total number of vehicles allowed, with dynamic pricing of routes acting as a live decongestant. License holders sit on their right to own a car, while some licenses are issued periodically and become expensive as demand increases. The prized possession of a car in Singapore increased to S$100,000 this week. The car one goes on to buy could be worth a fraction of this money, although those who can afford it would probably opt for a luxury marque.
Is Singapore’s policy worth emulating? Indian metropolitan traffic may do some experimentation in road pricing enabled by satellite-linked software systems. But car licenses would be too elitist, especially if the system favors the status quo and creates increasing barriers for candidates. Climate pressure to run a test is arguable, but we’ll need green and efficient public transportation options first. And a public debate on such ideas.
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