No doubt about it. The minister of Transport, Anil Baichoo, is a hard worker full of good will. Yet, most of his related road transport policies get stuck on the pad or move as slowly as vehicles in our traffic jams. Sure, the minister now knows a lot more about lobbies than traffic management. Now that he has called in a Singaporean expert, it is high time he realises that it takes more than technology to solve traffic problems. Singapore has succeeded with an iron hand and fast implementing of policies. Bus owners or taxi ? maroon or legal ? lobbies are unheard of in that country. Lee Kwan Yew started it all in 1975 and, in the world of high-tech traffic control he created, democracy is still a bug in the program and unchallenged decisions a killer application, which has resulted in an unbelievable rate of success.

But, to be fair to Lee Kwan Yu, suffice it to say that he has made it tough to own a car and drive it in his city island. But living without a car there is very easy with the comprehensive and comfortable public transit system, fast subway, air-conditioned and luxurious buses going everywhere, driving in their own lanes, readily available air-conditioned taxis at very affordable tariffs. It is only on certain special nights that one has to queue up for a taxi on Orchard Road. And when the queue is too long, one has just to use a mobile phone and call a taxi, which arrives from another station in less than five minutes.

Mauritius is years behind such development but has already imposed heavy road taxes on car owners. Taking more money with prohibitive parking fees and electronic road-pricing without any investment in more roads and facilities would be tantamount to milking car owners to fill government coffers. It may also be perceived as a move to create second-class citizens deprived of the right to commute in their own cars.

Car owners are not the only ones to blame for the chaotic situation. The main road layout of Port-Louis was conceived and built over the last few centuries for carts. The only new road constructed is the highway crossing the capital, and three new roads in the port area. Nothing more.

While Cabinet keeps pondering on the options of the transit system or new road development, the number of vehicles rises by 10% each year choking the capital a little more each day.

In a world where transportation experts are focusing on short-term, affordable and less controversial fixes, there is still much to be done in Mauritius. Simple, common-sense things to alleviate congestion before resorting to these punishing policies aimed at car owners. Singaporean expert Gopinath Menon had better repeat to the minister what he once told an American reporter. ?In Singapore, you see the toll charge you pay appear immediately on your car dashboard. You need to feel the pain?, he explained.

Paying is not that painful in Singapore when one realises the advantages that Intelligent Transport System brings to each and every commuter. This might be very different in Mauritius where there is another pain, which the minister has felt very recently. The pain inflicted in the voting booth. These booths do not exist in Singapore, Honourable Minister. Gopinath Menon will confirm.