Sir — This refers to Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu’s suggestion that proof of having parking space may become an essential requirement for the registration of new cars. The idea is commendable, and it will also tend to curb the congestion on roads. But charity should begin at home. less expensive and small cars for all those in legislature, bureaucracy and judiciary, must be encouraged. There can be exemptions for the President, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs (vehicles for the use of foreign dignitaries). Otherwise, people having the luxury of sprawling Government accommodation, will easily give parking space proof for big cars.
The best will be to impose a restriction rather a complete ban, on the registration of big cars, and SUVs which were rightly termed as “socially useless vehicles” by a former Union Minister. The Government should impose excise duty on cars according to their ex-factory price, with a heavy slab of double the normal excise duty on them, to discourage big cars.