Road to Nowhere!

It’s heartening to note that successive governments are taking considerable interest in trying to help movement of goods and people across borders. Opening up more border roads, relaxed visa and custom formalities, confidence building measures, social exchanges, reduction in trade tariffs and other barriers are some of the important steps that governments are adopting to facilitate this process.

While the efforts on the governments part is really commendable , I really fail to understand what’s stopping the governments in making interstate transport easier and accessible for the general public and goods- a case in point- the never ending dispute of state road transport between Delhi and UP.

Governments apathy towards such issues causes unmentionable hardship to travelers especially daily workers, consider NCR which comprises of three states and five growing townships, Commuters without their own mode of transport are left at the mercy of public transport that is in absolute state of disrepair-Even if the governments are not into tussle the bus service hardly exists between these suburbs, Rick’s and standard registered taxis cant cross the border because of permit and commercial tax hindrances.

Transport of passengers and goods between Mumbai and suburbs which fall under different districts-Thane, Greater Mumbai, and Raigad is equally an arduous task unless the person chooses to travel by train. Right from commercial tax to octroi forces taxis, Rick’s to avoid picking passengers for suburbs under these jurisdictions and thus deny them a chance to earn a decent earning and force the passengers to pay out of their pockets to avail any avialble means of transport.

Instances like these are very common in North, North East and galore across nearly all the states.
I really wonder, Is sorting out these issues more difficult than opening up borders with neighboring countries-, A recent report on the freight movement released by the central government states that on an average transport vehicles spend more than 40% of their time in state border check posts, and never ending line of commercial tax booths, they also spend an equal amount of fuel in this unnecessary exercise.- wouldn’t the trade benefit more by easing out the formalities in tax structures between states and central governments, while saving large amount of precious fuels which in turn would make goods and services cheaper!

Is it a question of miscued priorities or complete lack of understanding of needs of the electorate? I’m perplexed! Does anyone have any idea about this?