The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 06, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside Delhi

An endless process

As if potholes, speed-breakers and narrow roads were not enough, driving in the Capital has been made near impossible by the almost continuous repairing of the central verge on most roads. Seemingly an obsession with the civic agencies, the central verge on almost every road appears to be under constant repair. And as the construction material is often strewn on the road, it becomes a hazard for commuters.

Repairing the central verge seems an endless process - the verge itself is under construction or is being painted or grills are being erected or a turn is being blocked or opened. And if it is none of the above, for some unknown reason, the verge is broken down and the entire process begins all over again.

One such verge that appears to have received a lot of attention is the one on Lodhi Road. Travelling on this road is a hazard as the central verge on the stretch is under repair. Huge blocks and other construction material have been put on the road. Besides obstructing the free flow of traffic, this also makes the area accident-prone, especially during night when drivers are unable to see the bricks clearly. While it is important to beautify the city, it is equally important to ensure the safety of the commuters.

Saving India

To bring out the latent qualities in children and to make them channels of social transformation, a retired army colonel, K.L.K. Prasad, is working on a project titled "Children Only Can Save India''. As part of this project, he kindles their urge, gives them knowledge, sets them goals, makes them achieve and then gives total credit to them.

"Children can be made to address local problems more through sensitising people around them, planning and persuasion coupled with knowledge like analysing problems, reasoning and the method to overcome,'' says the Hyderabad-based Col. Prasad, adding: "Schools and organisations concerned can promote children's action to avert the water crisis looming large in cities like Delhi.''

And this is how it works. An analysis letter written by him can be read out to students just two days before the holidays either class-wise or in the assembly to sensitise children to the gravity of the situation. The 15-point charter can be written on the blackboard or children given copies of them. The children are then asked to sensitise at least 100 elders around them by explaining/reading the points and the water crisis looming large over India during their holidays. "The children who get 100 signatures may be awarded the Bhagirathi certificates either by the school or I am willing to send the certificates,'' says Col. Prasad.

Unpopular Haats

The Sanchaar Haats of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited are fast becoming unpopular. The place, which gave the look of a posh corporate office when inaugurated a few years ago, now gives the impression of a rundown municipal office. Even the work culture has changed.

This was evident when a city reporter visited one such outlet at Bhikaiji Cama Place in South Delhi. The person in charge of this Sanchaar Haat was upset that it was not being opened on time for the past few weeks. "Why should I come so early? I will take leave, if I am asked to do so," one of the woman employees at the counter shouted at him. As if this were not enough, one of them threw the roster chart in the dustbin. All this even as three to four customers were waiting to get an Internet or a mobile phone connection to avail of the new MTNL scheme.

But this was not all. As lunch hour was approaching, they asked the subscribers to come two hours later to get the receipt. "This is lunch time, we are hungry," one of them said. One of the subscribers could not help complaining aloud. "This is the reason why the Government is on a privatisation spree."

A positive change

Is Metro Rail improving the Capital's "culture" that is often criticised, particularly by those visiting the city? "Definitely, the way people are using Metro Rail and its infrastructure clearly indicates that the sophisticated train system has certainly brought about a positive change in the outlook of Delhiites," feel Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials.

"Initially, when it was decided that Metro Rail would be introduced in areas like Shahdara, Tis Hazari and Kashmere Gate, we were apprehensive about the people's reaction to the superior quality of services planned for them. Generally it has been seen that whenever new public utility services were introduced in the Capital, they were either mishandled or damaged by the public. But for Metro Rail, the journey so far had been smooth," they added.

A Metro driver said though during the first few weeks they had to face some unruly elements who threw stones at the trains or wrote graffiti on the interiors of the coaches and stole entry/exit tokens. But soon everything changed.

"Since then there has been a great change in the people's attitude. They are now well behaved while travelling in trains, follow the instructions given to them through the public announcement system and never break the queue at ticket counters. Surprisingly, we are often approached by passengers who thank the DMRC for giving them a wonderful mode of transport," he added.

Already Metro Rail has become an integral part of the lives of those working in East Delhi. And with the opening of the new section till Rithala in North-West Delhi, more and more people are becoming a part of the new culture.

By Anjali Dhal Samanta , K. Kannan, Lalit K. Jha and Sandeep Joshi

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section

Inspector refuses to give voice samples

An unusual little `informer'

Power cuts despite surplus power

Woman stalked at IHC

Wire thief lands in police net

Cholera cases on the rise

SHO manhandled

Fire in Farakka Express

Man goes on stabbing spree; kills daughter, injures wife

A new lease of life for Mughal bridge

In The Capital Today

Inside Delhi