Abolish The RTO

New Delhi: June 1, 2008: 2000hrs
My inquiries have revealed that a 10-year old Bajaj autorickshaw that runs on CNG (and possesses a “permit” from the RTO to ply on our city streets) costs 2,50,000 rupees.

My own 7-year old Opel Corsa with a 1.4 litre petrol engine, air-conditioning, power steering, power windows and central locking commands a resale value of not more than 80,000 rupees.

Three Opel Corsas for one Bajaj autorickshaw?

Is that a bum deal or what?

The “permit” to ply an autorickshaw is issued by the Regional Transport Officer (RTO).

If this office was abolished, and there was complete freedom to ply any vehicle for commercial purposes, autorickshaws would be junked.

Passengers would travel in good cars – and taxi drivers would drive good taxis as well.

Win-Win.

If we add duty-free second-hand car imports to this scenario, the road transportation sector would leapfrog into the modern age.

Fleet owners would own fleets of modern cars – like the highly durable Mercedes Benz, the chosen vehicle for taxi services in much of the world.

What about driving licenses? – another power that the RTO has.

Well, car insurance companies can take over this vital function, and since they have a financial interest in seeing that only good drivers get insurance, they will do this job well.

Another great idea from the Antidote blog?

Go on… spread the virus.