India, May 17 -- A 'shocker difficult to swallow' is how some stakeholders are describing the new policy on vehicular mobility being considered by the state. After tossing the ideas of making a parking certificate a mandatory requirement to register a new vehicle, and selectively levying a congestion tax, the state held its first meeting with various stakeholders to discuss the proposed plan. The message that came back, loud and clear, was: first, strengthen the public transport system and create adequate parking space.

Also discussed were heavy tolls, restriction on the number of vehicles per family, and restrictions on the types of vehicles that can enter congested cities.

At the meeting on Friday, additional chief secretary Sanjay Se...