Please wait, the nation is in queue!

Here I analysed the The cost that the nation incurred in terms and the time and Money cause by the three policy decisions of the Ministry of road and transport ( MoRTH)

Here is a summary of that - Please read details of the post to know that from where I bring these figures

Working hour lost 

• High-security number plates - 1000000000 hours (100 Crores )
• Pollution certificate of the Vehicles - 250000000 hours (25 crores)
• FASTag - 50000000 hours ( 5 Crores)

Money that Citizen has to spend:-

• High-security number plates - 27,250 Crore
• No Pollution certificate of the Vehicles - 4,000 Crore
• FASTag - Zero OR 500 Crore

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Gross Domestic Product growth falls to 4.5% in Q2 of 2019-20. It was followed by the question of the Rahul Bajaj to the Ministers. Fortunately, there is some discussion on the economy in the media. But, Most Journalists and even economists analysed this through the lens of the impact of demonetization and GST.

Demo and GST were the major reasons behind that. There is no doubt in that. But Human resources are equally important to the economy as the capital. Here I explained that How the decisions of the Ministry of the road and transport keep the Human resources busy in the non-productive work.

When you read or hear this line - The nation is in the queue. First thing comes to your mind is the Demonetization. But I can say with confidence that after reading this post, you will be socked. But None media house covered this. Here I made a small effort to present the worrisome picture of the ground conditions.

Let start with the High-security number plates ( HSRP)

MoRTH notification dated the 6th December 2018 made mandatory the High-security numberplate from the 1st April 2019. That means the old vehicles must replace their old plates with the high-security number plates.

Let's calculate, how much time and money it consumes.

As per MOTOR VEHICLES - Statistical Year Book India 2018 there are 23,00,31,000 vehicles in India in the year 2016. So Let say there will be 25 crore registered vehicles in India in the year 2018. Owners of all these have to replace their existing number plates with the HSRP.

The process is very lengthy and complex. First, you have to fill the online form. Then have to pay fees to the RTO office and get a slip. Then have to take online appointment of the fixation date. And Have to visit the RTO for the HSRP affixation.

Citizen has to spend at least 4-5 hours in this process. In addition to that, RTO remains closed on Sunday. So the person has to get at least one day off from the Work for this. So, let calculate the cost

• Time - (25 Crore) * 4 hours = 100 Crore hours
• Cost - (25 crore) * 700 = 17,500 Crore (Rs. 700 is per day minimum wage decided by 7th pay commission)

I calculate the cost of only the working hours lost. It do not include the cost of the HSRP plates, Fuel cost, Pollution due to the travelling of the HSRP changes. Let calculate it overall.

The cost of the HSRP for the two-wheeler is the Rs.200 and Four Wheeler is Rs.500. So let's take Rs.300 as Average.

• HSRP cost = 25 Crore * 300 = Rs. 7,500 Crore

Usually, there is only one RTO office in one district. So say a citizen has to travel 30 km for this process.

• Kilometres to travel = 25 Crore * 30 = 750 Crore km. (Distance between Earth and Sun is 15 Crore km!)
• Cost of travelling = 750 Crore * 3 = Rs. 2,250 Crore (Average cost of the 1 km travelling = Rs.3)

(I lived in Gujarat. So What I explain is about the process of Gujarat which I experienced. But I am sure that most of the other states, the story will be the same if not worse than this)

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Now comes to anther Tughlaqi decision of the Motor vehicle amendment act. This act shoots up the various penalties. There is mainly discussion over the Helmet, Seat belt and the Traffic signal violation in this. But, Here I like to draw your attention to the Anther point - No Pollution certificate (PUC)

For Vehicles, It's mandatory to have the PUC certificate. For that, one has to visit the PUC centres to get the certificate. And keep remember, this certificate is valid only for the 6 months. You have to visit the centre to get a new certificate. On another hand, there is also punishment for the Drink and Drive. But there is no need to get "Not Drank" certificate before driving. Police keep the hand machine to find out the violator of the Law. The same is possible for Pollution checking. Mobile pollution measurement instrument can be deployed on the road. But, the Government wants to keep busy everyone in their Tughlaqui rule.

Let calculate the cost that Nation has to bear -

Gujarat is spread in the 1,96,024 Sq. Km but there are just 1000 PUC centres. That means a person has to travel at least 10 km to visit the PUC centres. In addition to that, this process takes at least 1 hour. ( I know many citizens who stand 4-5 hours in line to get the PUC)

• Working Hours lost = 25 Crore (No. of the vehicle) * 1 hour = 25 Crore hours.
• Cost of the Working hour loss = 25 crore * 100 = 2500 crore ( Rs. 100 is the labour cost of the one hour)

• Km to travel for the PUC = 25 Crore (No. of the vehicle) * 10 km = 250 crores Km.
• Cost of the travelling of the 250 Crore km = 250 crore *3 = 750 Crore (Rs.3 per km)

 Here I do not include the cost of the PUC. It's Rs.20 to Rs.60 for the various types of Vehicles. So let take Rs.30 as Average

• Cost of the PUC certification = 25 Crore (No. of vehicle) * 30 = Rs.750 Crore

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FASTag -

21st November PIB update of the MoRTH says that - Government going to convert all lanes of the toll tax national highways into FASTag lane from the date 1st of December 2019.  Now the date extended to the 15th December 2019.

National highway toll tax is applicable to all vehicles except the two-wheelers and tractors. There are 25 Crore registered vehicles in India but out of these, 5 Crore is the cars and other which comes under the provision of the toll tax payee.

Out of that 4.25 crore yet do not have the FASTag. There are 28000 outlets in India from where one can get FASTag. I yet not purchased any FASTag but read the process. It seems that it will take at least 1 hour to get FASTag. So, there will be loss of the 5 crore working hours. Here I do not calculate the cost of the working hours loss cause one can do the process online, after the working hours.

For the cost,  Usually the FASTAg cost is Rs.100 but recently, MoRTH minister announced that government will provide it on free of cost.