The Hindu : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 15, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Readers' Mail

Jungle raj

Sir, -- The pride of East Delhi, the 20-storey Scope Minar Complex at Lakshmi Nagar near Radhu Palace, has been functioning for the past one year. Many reputed public sector units have relocated their offices here vacating centrally-located rented office buildings in other parts of the Capital. An estimated Rs.100 crores has been invested by the various public sector units in the modern office complex which also has several other multi-storey offices built by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and private builders. Surrounding the complex are commercial and residential areas off Vikas Marg. But the state of the civic amenities around the complex is appalling.

No plan has been drawn up for footpaths, subways, speed-breakers or link roads to regulate traffic. Hundreds of official and personal vehicles and chartered buses ply in the vicinity from various parts of Delhi and the rest of the National Capital Region. It seems no major urban infrastructure has been planned by the Town and Country Planning Department of the Delhi Government or the Delhi police to manage the non-stop traffic. The worst affected areas are Vikas Marg and Shakarpur with a large concentration of buses. Besides cyclerickshaws and Blueline buses, fruit and vegetable sellers make it impossible to have a smooth flow of traffic. After shifting the offices here many public sector units have felt the pinch.

I surveyed the traffic pattern in this area for over two months and observed that buses on 30 different routes to various destinations ply through Vikas Marg. This is a major hurdle for traffic bound for the Scope Minar complex. There is a high frequency of some buses like Outer Mudrika, 73, 39, 469, 720 and 340 during peak hours in the morning and evening, occupying a lot of space on the clogged Vikas Marg even though the buses are half-empty. It has become a practice for the Blueline conductors to shout at the top of their voice to attract more passengers. If they don't get any, they wait endlessly in the middle of the road for passengers. All this hinders the flow of traffic on Vikas Marg since there are three traffic signals on the clogged stretch. If even one bus breaks down, huge traffic jams ensue. At times it takes up to an hour to cover a distance of 4 km.

The Radhu Palace intersection does not have a traffic signal nor a traffic cop to regulate the traffic bound for Scope Minar. The matter was taken up with the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) with a request to divert some bus routes from this area but in vain. To add to the chaos, Vikas Marg also caters to voluminous traffic from Kaushambi, Sahibabad, Vasundhara, Vaishali, Ghaziabad and other places in UP.

To decongest Vikas Marg, buses of at least 10 routes need to be diverted to alternate routes in East Delhi urgently.

There is also a need to build subways, footpaths and side-lanes. The Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Transport Corporation, Road Transport Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Central Road Research Institute meet at once to find an acceptable solution.

Tapan Bhattacharya,

SAIL Corporate Office, 16th Floor, Scope Minar,

Lakshmi Nagar District Complex

Delhi - 110 092

She is Indian

Sir, -- I have read and heard a lot about Sonia Gandhi's "non-Indian nationality". I attach no value to statements by selfish political leaders because they are hungry for power and payments derived through political power. They include some Brahmins, too, who are expected to have read our ancient scriptures. But I am surprised at the statements coming from people whom I would call non-selfish, not belonging to any political party.

Our ancient rishis and law-makers have prescribed in very clear terms, "Panigrahana Velaayam Pitra-Gotram Parityaja Pati-gotram Prapnoti saa Kanya". In simple language, this means that at the time of marriage the bride gives up the "gotra" of her father and enters into the "gotra" of her husband. From times immemorial in India, greatest importance has been attached to the "gotra" of a human being. If the girl enters the "gotram" of her husband, she naturally and automatically enters into and acquires the nationality of her husband.

I hold no brief for Sonia Gandhi; on the other hand, her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi when she was Prime Minister of India had ordered, without any reason or justification, enquiries by CBI and Income-Tax authorities against me. But being a humble student of Hindu culture and religion as an astrologer, I deem it my duty today to put forth a part of my knowledge before the public for it to see the issue of Ms. Sonia Gandhi's nationality in the correct perspective.

Pandit K.B. Parsai,

91-SFS, Haus Khas,

New Delhi - 110 016

* * *

Delhi's shame

Sir, -- The newspapers these days are full of reports about sex-related crimes. The other day it was reported that 16 pahelwans who had allegedly molested three Delhi University girls in a moving U-special bus in the North Campus area were arrested by the North Delhi police. It all happened in the morning around 8-30 a.m. when some well-built men in track suits got into the U-special near Delhi University's main gate. The girls resisted and tried to get down from the bus, but the intruders confronted them and threatened them. "The other occupants of the bus including the driver and the conductor remained silent spectators even as the culprits molested the girls."

The question is: Why didn't the driver and the conductor take the bus to the nearest police station?

The Capital of India should be ashamed of such incidents.

Prof. K.P. Pothen,

84, Padmavati,

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) - 452 001.

* * *

No kidding

Sir, -- Delhi's Education Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, made an announcement at a function in Munirka recently about plans to build schools for girls from underprivileged sections of society. It's a good step towards spreading literacy. Such steps should be taken on a regular basis all over the country. At the same time, something must be done to bring down the number of dropouts from the schools.

The Government should encourage parents by letting them know the benefits of education and the importance of sending their children, specially girls, to school. According to a UNESCO report, India has the highest number of out-of-school girls and only half the children who enter primary school reach Class V.

Education should be given prime consideration not only in terms of introducing new schemes but also implementing the old ones first, both in urban and rural areas, if we want to be counted among the world's developed nations.

Ravneet Kaur,

D-61, B.K. Dutt Colony,

New Delhi - 110 003.

* * *

For senior citizens

Sir, -- In our country, reliefs, concessions and benefits for senior citizens are comparatively much less and restricted and need to be enhanced and expanded in an effective manner. It is unfortunate that instead of considering better benefits, impractical and inconsiderate conditions have been imposed for the concessions in air fare available for our senior citizens.

Until June 2003, Indian Airlines as also other airlines like Jet Airways and Air Sahara offered a concession of 50 per cent on the fare component to senior citizens. The scheme for concession to senior citizens was modified with effect from July 2003 with revised conditions as under: a minimum stay of seven days at destination; re-routing not permitted; and confirmed return ticket to be purchased seven days before departure.

These new conditions virtually rob senior citizens of the chance to avail of a discount if and when (i) they have to travel for emergency reasons; (ii) stay at the destination is not possible or convenient for seven days; and (iii) return journey is uncertain or not required. Earlier, such conditions were not applicable; tickets with discount were issued even at the time of departure, and purchase of return ticket was not obligatory.

I earnestly request the authorities concerned to see that the revised conditions are withdrawn fully. Senior Citizen Discount on the airfare component as prevailed prior to June 2003 should be restored without any condition.

Also, a word on eligibility. Instead of 65 years for males and 63 years for females, completion of 60 years may please be considered both for males and females.

Pravin L. Shah,

414 Star Plaza, Jasani Road,

Rajkot - 360 001.

* * *

Not again

Sir, -- Mr. Advani claims that he undertook his rath yatra in 1990 to promote harmony. The world knows that it created a lot of discord and left a long trail of bloodshed. Now again he is undertaking a yatra and claiming that it would create social harmony. Will history repeat itself and should we be ready for more disharmony?

If, on the other hand, he is serious about his claim this time round, he is welcome. Because we feel this is the need of the hour.

Fahad Tanweer,

A-56, Abul Fazl Enclave,

Jamia Nagar,

New Delhi - 110 025

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