The BRT concept cannot be abandoned The clock is ticking fast. Roads in Indian cities are getting saturated by vehicles. There is no option but to build a public transport system efficient and

the common wisdom of electoral democracy might call for politicians, specialising in arithmetic, who can identify the biggest number. But the post-modern understanding of electoral politics may demand integrating a small number of voters whose limit to power is tending towards infinity! Let us look at how a few road dividers on a stretch of 19 km in Delhi have completely divided the urban classes (see page: 32-38).

On April 21, a small stretch of road in a congested corner of south Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, turned into an epicentre of chaos, confusion and downright indignation.

A Down To Earth report on the unsustainable growth of personal vehicles. This situation could have been averted had public transport not been neglected.

Montenegro will launch a new green tax this summer for all foreign cars, buses and trucks entering the Adriatic state to try to protect its environment, officials said on Monday. Tourism Ministry spokeswoman Jelena Paovic said the tax, effective from June 15, will be 10 euros for cars and mini-buses and between 30 and 150 euros for trucks, buses and other larger vehicles depending on their size and power. Drivers can pay at the border and will get a sticker for their cars as proof of payment, valid for one year.

"Fred and Wilma Flintstone" were arrested as they approached the European Parliament on Monday to protest about the influence of the auto industry on proposals to curb carbon dioxide emissions from cars. Six Greenpeace activists dressed as cavemen and travelling in a Flintstones-style vehicle were detained along with three others for public order offences, police said. A stone tablet accusing car lobbyists of driving climate change was confiscated before it could be delivered to lawmakers, a Greenpeace spokeswoman said.

Germany and France are close to an accord on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars that could pave the way for the introduction of European Union-wide limits, a government source said on Thursday. Germany is concerned that planned EU rules which would cap emissions at 120 grammes per km on average from 2012, and introduce fines for non-compliance, will put its luxury automobile industry at a disadvantage.

A Palestinian-designed electric car drew admiring stares on Tuesday from Gazans forced to use cooking oil to power their cars because of a fuel shortage. "At first people laughed, saying it would not work, now people are begging us to convert their cars," said Fayez Amman. Working with fellow electrical engineer Wasim al-Khuzundar, Amman hooked up an engine to 32 batteries. Driving their small car through the streets of Gaza City, they said the vehicle could travel up to 200 km (120 miles) on a single charge.

Congressional Democrats on Monday said White House pressure may have influenced the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a bid by California to impose strict limits on emissions from new cars and trucks. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson rejected California's plan on Dec. 19, 2007, despite recommendations from agency staff to approve the tough limits, Democratic staff said in a memo based on five months of investigation.

Nissan Motor Co. said Monday it will start mass-producing lithium-ion batteries by business 2009 as part of its efforts to catch up with rival automakers in developing eco-friendly vehicles such as gasoline-electric hybrid cars. Automotive Energy Supply Corp., a joint venture set up in April 2007 by Nissan, NEC Corp. and its subsidiary, NEC Tokin Corp., will take charge of production at a new production line to be built in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The line's initial annual output capacity is estimated at 13,000 units.

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