Disingenuous attack on fare-free public transport

This is how they attack the idea of free public transport:

First, reduce it to an accounting problem.

The key to operating a free public transport is to identify alternate sources of revenue to finance it. Sustaining a free transport policy in the long-term, especially during times of economic volatility, can be highly strenuous. ...

We wonder if the automobile system could withstand a sharp pencil analysis. But that will never happen because the costs of cars are never included specifically in budgets. They are just considered necessary costs of development.

Second, repeat the big lie: "Fares are needed to pay the costs of public transport"

While financial performance is critical for operating public transport, increasing the fare is not the best solution. The approach to the problem will change once it is realised that the objective of operating public transport is not to generate revenue but to offer affordable services to citizens. The need of the hour is to find innovative solutions to make public transport affordable for all.

Here, the same writer admits that fares are for rationing, not revenue. 

Use public transit, reduce traffic

If you are a resident of Delhi and complain about steep increase in penalty for traffic violations. Please sell you vehicle and use the money to travel on Metro. 1/n@nsvirk @FreePublicTrans @ArvindKejriwal @IPSMadhurVerma @KapilSharmaK9

— Akhil Sehgal (@akhil_shgl) September 6, 2019

Does this look like a good way to move people?

The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division office said that on average the hotline responds to 2,000 to 3,000 phone calls every day. Most of the calls are inquiries from the public about traffic jams in Kathmandu Valley and the highways, and complaints against public vehicles.

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2019-07-10/traffic-police-hotline-103-gets-thousands-of-complaints-every-day.html 

India - Bank CEO calls for #freepublictransport

A developed country is not the one where poor have cars, but where all including the rich use public transport. Small country called Estonia leads the way. Free public transport for all! https://t.co/4m87JN6DGz

— Uday Kotak (@udaykotak) June 8, 2019

Fare-free fever in India

Shortly after the Delhi Chief Minister’s decision to provide free transport to women, a Shiv Sena corporator from Pune has also demanded that the city follows suit of the national capital.

https://punemirror.indiatimes.com//pune/civic/pmpml-mulls-over-corporators-demand-for-free-transport/articleshow/69639945.cms? 

Kochi, India, promoting #publictransport

Public transport as the way ahead - The Hindu: "Through this initiative, we want to make public transport the preferred choice for Kochiites and visitors.”

He urged members of the public to jointly bring about a change in the way public transport was perceived and utilised in Kochi."

India needs to revamp its public transport system: Nitin Gadkari

The Economic Times: ""For long term, we need a good policy which is going to encourage public transport... We need to revamp public transport," the road transport and highways minister said. "