The Great Delhi Crawl

If every road tells a story, our roads are telling it poorly, or telling it wrong. A pet topic of discussion in every genteel drawing room is invariably: Why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us). Forget drunk-drivers and road rage, getting caught in a traffic snarl and cursing (often loudly) at others is the everyday story on every Delhi road.The stats are flashy, though. Delhi has maximum cars on the road; it’s the largest automobile market; it also has 10 times more car density than the national average

Time to rejoice? If only the roads were in a better state. Some sad news for daily commuters, too. For, despite the flashy stats, the First City lags behind Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in traffic speed. But in a city that loves its big, flashy cars, why would there be a market for used cars? “People are getting more aware because the exchange mechanism is increasing,” he points out. “Considering that high-end cars are coming to India rapidly, more enthusiasts will feel like owning the second-hand versions, as not many can afford the brand new variety because of import duties and taxes.” Also certification is coming in and more people will be comfortable using secondhand cars. “The choice of used cars available is much more than in new cars,” adds Pahwa. “After a few years, if the government allows import of used foreign cars to India, it would be an added bonus to car lovers.” He also feels that buyers will not be interested in new foreign cars because they will hardly be affordable in India.

And what does Delhi like to drive the most? Maruti, says Pahwa, because “it’s the perfect design for India and it’s reliable”. The other choices in order of importance are Hyundai, Tata, Ford, Honda and Toyota. And he himself loves zipping about in his Honda Civic but that’s when the roads are empty.