When the car industry is singing praises for the Nano, it’s giving a tough time for urban transport planners who predict the worse city traffic condition once the car hits the road. Surprisingly, the car is expected to expand the Indian car market massively which will definitely flood the tier II and III cities in the coming times. With no proper traffic strategies and large number of Nanos, the Indian roads will have a tough time.

It is believed that the Nano is likely to imitate the 215 percent growth in annual volumes of cars seen between 1998 and 2008 within around ten years time. The figure clearly forecasts the condition which will engulf the Indian roads soon.

The bulk sales of Tata Nano are expected in commercially active areas including small towns. It will hinder smooth traffic flow as the roads will get congested with increased number of vehicles. City planners say that it is not possible to widen the roads any further as there are limitations to number of flyovers and bringing down buildings is not possible. Moreover, it attracts huge investments that is difficult to get sanctioned from the government.

The city planners can only create more one ways and put in more traffic signals to ease traffic congestion and avoid accidents. It would require some real planning for a new urban transport facility in India. But will the pace of development by government line up with the market conditions is a question that every Indian will ask soon after the 1st allotment of Tata Nano is made.