The Nano is here ^[1].

And I am not surprised that the environmentalists don’t like it one bit. Because, once the car hits dealerships in Chennai, the following are very likely to happen.

1. Autorickshaws will become Nanorickshaws. They will even have (drum roll please) Nanometers. So they will probably be more precise (I mean 10 raised to the power -9 precise) than the current crop of meters, which are anything but.

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2. Cyclerickshaws will also become Nanorickshaws.

3. Dominos, Pizza Hut, Pizza Corner and the rather yummy Pizzaurant will start to use Nanos for delivery. Today, with the exception of Pizzaurant, which has a sensible policy of not promising unrealistic delivery times, all the other pizza outlets hire accident causing road demons who drive two-wheelers at mach-12 to deliver my Veggie Supreme with extra olives.

4. The friendly neighbourhood vegetable seller will migrate to the Nanovandi.

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5. The ubiquitous "Hot Soup" joints will become mobile on their spanking new Souper Nano.

6. The IT and BPO crowd that currently plagues the roads with two-wheels will start to plague the roads with 4-wheels.

7. Fishcarts will become Nanocarts.

8. Saravana Stores will introduce a new Nanoshop concept store where families in Nanos can drive through, pick up stuff they want and drive out. The business model will be built around the central fact that when people try to drive out into the maddening traffic at T-Nagar, they will change their minds and continue to shop a little bit more till the traffic outside lessens (by about 12 in the midnight)

9. Talking of traffic woes, the government is likely to introduce a new set of roads specially designed for Nanos. The gap in between railway tracks. Yes. A Nano will probably fit in. This should ease the burden on the roads.

10. Talking of railway tracks, given the pathetic frequency of MRTS trains, somebody is likely to hit upon the idea of stacking modified nanos (wheels modded to fit into broad gauge tracks) and starting a Nanopolitan Train Service that runs in between regular trains.

11. Since apartment builders rarely pay attention to the need for parking space, elevator companies like OTIS are likely to design a new, slightly larger elevator into which one can drive ones Nano and take it straight into ones home at the end of the day.

12. Small potti kadais will start to sell the Nano along with Panneer soda and murukku. "Thambi. Oru Nano, rendu tea, naalu murukku".

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(Original Image credits – Jenskin Jeyamani [link ^[5]])

While the car is actually designed to pollute less than a 2-wheeler, Chennaiites, don’t exactly have immaculate vehicle maintenance skills (involving once in a decade tuneups, Muthu Engine works and Ramar pillai fuel).

So I am not surprised that the environmentalists are worried.