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Monday, September 15, 2014

Time to Act


 The city was waking up from the slumber as the overnight rain had created huge puddles all along the road. The erstwhile potholes have now become craters and if one looks at the satellite picture of the roads in Gurgaon, he will mistake them to be craters on the moon! Car, buses, motorbikes were all in a hurry and were splashing the water, on the poor pedestrians who were trying hard to find way on what once looked like a road.

During the day the weather kept playing hide and seek and by late afternoon the clouds gathered once more, rumbled and it rained for another one hour. Around 5 PM, most of the office goers collected their bags and left the office hoping that by sunset they would reach home. The millennium city was groaning under the weight of vehicles and everywhere as far as one could see there were huge traffic snarls. It had taken almost one hour to cover the distance of 1 km and still the main road was far away. By now some of the drivers that had lost patience started entering the roads from all directions leading to a situation that traffic came to a grinding halt. The situation was grim and there was no solution in sight! Desperate now, many of the office goers made beeline for the metro stations and packed like sardines, traveled to their destination.  Most people were too tired after an exhausting day and were waiting for the trauma to end. This is the situation in the city adjacent to the capital, which houses all the major MNC/ Government and Public sector undertaking offices almost every rainy day! Incidentally, the number of taxpayers contributing to the kitty would perhaps be the highest here.

The scenario is much the same in the capital itself and most of the major metro cities with all major roads clogged with traffic and water overflowing from every drain and small rivulets running next to the roads on the rainy days. A low feeling of the collapsing infrastructure in bigger cities is visible all around.


Is it really very difficult for the municipal authorities to clear the drains and create a drainage system that works, when needed most! Is it so difficult for the traffic police to be available to guide the traffic in such times when people need them the most? Why it is that only the Armed forces are remembered and asked to assist the civil agencies that behave as if they have been paralyzed when emergencies arise? We never learn any lessons and the story repeats year after year only the locations keep shifting. We may take pride of Indians who are serving in every sphere with brilliant contributions but situation at home does not appear to be improving! We can only debate endlessly on prime time on TV shows but do little tangible except indulging in blame games! It is time to put our act together before it is too late!

PS: Image Kind courtesy Google

39 comments:

  1. Very true, Rahulji.
    Blame-Game & passing the buck seems to be our favorite National Sport.
    Really terrible that even a few minutes rain is enough to cause water-logging.

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  2. It's a really sad state of affairs. Frankly, I've given up hopes of better roads and traffic sense- Just cannot happen in India.

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    1. I too get a feeling that the things are getting from bad to worse in the name of so called development:(

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  3. The infrastructure is crumbling. I don't even know what I should do as a citizen to help.

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    1. Exactly, just the sheer number of people make every problem humungous!

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  4. its a big problem in approximately all the cities of this country... we need a good infrastructure no doubt....

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    1. As a people unfortunately we lack the attitude to work in the right direction, Noopur:(

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  5. It is the same story all over--when will we take pride in job well done?

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    1. Yes Induji, have witnessed the situation is the same everywhere! The pride in doing a job is missing!

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  6. I know what are you saying. Faced similar situation in Noida. It's not a difficult task provided government wants to act.

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    1. True, Saru... the resolve to solve problem is what is needed! BTW... you did not tell you were in Noida else could have met you:)

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  7. The situation is really bad. I don't know if the government does not want to act or the whole machinery has died.

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    1. Ha ...ha ... like that, not withstanding the harrowing time experienced, Jas:)

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  8. Chennai is worst. We get very very limited rains. Still, 15 minutes of moderate rains clog all the drains and we see water everywhere on the roads, splashing at pedestrians on the narrow footpaths. It takes 3-4 days to clean up in slow motion by the corporation. The same things happens year after year. Most of the roads are dug up and left open and two wheelers skid on the mud. So Chennai people always curse even the limited dosage of rains all the time!

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    1. Sandhya... have seen Chennai in rains and know what exactly you mean:)

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  9. Agree with your thoughts.. One rain and the city entire city comes to a halt!

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    1. Thank you Radhika! For those who have to travel, it is a nightmare!

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  10. To an extent you are right..Roads should be good,infrastructure must be created.
    But,when it comes to traffic mess,how can we blame the Govt? It is you and I who drive and the Govt.
    If each one of is get to do our own bit,there wont be much problems..We all complain,but,would do nothing

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    1. Chowlaji, the basic greed and rampant corruption and total apathy adds to the misery besides lack of manners and civic sense of those behind the wheels:(

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  11. It is the same scene here but for a different reason. One time it rains and the traffic is slow. More accidents. When I come to India, I am so scared to come out during the peak traffic times. :( Coming to traffic police, the other day I was driving to work and have to pass through a high school. A cop came by, stopped his vehicle and started directing the traffic.

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    1. At least you can draw comparisions between some difficulty experienced versus a total chaos, Latha! Thanks a lot for reading:)

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  12. I'm bracing myself for the chaos, impolite drivers and the maddening traffic. We all live Bhagwan bharose, knowing fully well that nobody cares for our problems.

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    1. Welcome back to the chaos, Purba! Till then enjoy the goodies that come with a structured and balanced living:)

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  13. Bang on, Ashwini! It is the lack of will to do things that is the root cause of most problems:(

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  14. We will have highways...fly overs and everything. But will we have traffic sense and will we abide by the traffic rules?
    I pray everytime I get on the road.

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  15. not even god can save us from this s***

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  16. Rahul, you need to see the roads in Bangalore after it has rained, or when the sewers have burst open. Its an unbearable, smelly sight. But thankfully, the repair work is done super fast.

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  17. Its the case in Bangalore too. The civic maintenance is pathetic. Its more irritating because the city gets good amount of money from corporate taxes and other earnings. Don't know where the money goes. The BBMP is bankrupt it seems and has been pawning heritage buildings :-O

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  18. This is the same story in almost cities! Your post brought scene in front of.

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  19. A pity indeed that we are in shambles when it comes to traffic management!

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