IELTS band 8 essay sample: Should fuel prices be increased to reduce pollution?

IELTS essay topic

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

What other measures do you think might be effective?

Band 8 essay sample

Over the last two decades there has been a massive increase in the number of vehicles on the road. This can be attributed to the increased buying power of people; however, it has also led to traffic problems and pollution in big cities.

Some people argue that this problem can be solved to a great extent by increasing fuel prices. I do not agree with this opinion because it can cause a ripple effect.

The decision to increase the price of petrol could make people think twice before using their personal vehicle.  However, the other effects of this price hike should also be analyzed before taking such a decision. Petrol being the basic requirement for transportation, any hike in the price of petrol will increase the overall inflation in the country. Moreover it will cause hardship to daily commuters and school students. This will also result in a skewed supply chain relationship of petrol as a commodity.

There are other alternatives that the government could explore to curb pollution and traffic. The government could, for example, decentralize urban areas and develop small cities. Developing the infrastructure by constructing flyovers and alternate routes is another viable alternative. Big cities could also try a metro rail network connecting key hubs. In addition to the above, government could modify school timings to further ease traffic congestion.

To summarize, infrastructure developments could be planned and implemented with the future vehicle growth in mind. Infrastructure development will also go a long way in improving the overall economy of the country.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.

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