The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside Delhi

Metro will be Metro after all

Taking criticism in their stride and not getting fazed by it is the hallmark of all great organisations. And so when in these columns last Tuesday the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was criticised for poor road maintenance and traffic chaos along some of its newer construction sites, the Corporation did not respond angrily. Rather its Chief Public Relations Officer Anuj Dayal wrote a very polite reply explaining the situation point-wise.

He wrote: "After completion of construction, Sikandra Road was left to settle down. Now the potholes are being filled and road restoration work will start on February 16 by when the final layer will also be laid.''

As for the main reason for the chaos in Laxmi Nagar where Metro construction is going on, Mr. Dayal wrote: "There is congestion on both sides of the existing road. For Metro's alignment of Anand Vihar-Laxmi Nagar section, DMRC has taken 9 metres from the central verge for construction. On both sides there is an 8.5-metre road for vehicular movement, after which there is a 2.5-metre footpath on both the sides. Though a 4-metre service lane is also provided on both sides, it is being occupied by shopkeepers for parking. Apart from this, 40 traffic marshals in three shifts are being deployed round-the-clock to manage and guide traffic. Moreover, once the pillars are completed, within the next six months the road will be widened by two metres -- one metre from both the sides.''

And about the trucks following the wrong path from Noida Bund Road near Sri Oil Company and National Highway-24, he has written to the traffic police to take necessary action.

-- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Beggars can be choosers

It may be difficult to believe but beggars can indeed be choosers. While they operate in busy markets and at traffic intersections across the Capital, they would prefer foreigners to locals given a chance.

The other day, a motorist waiting at the traffic signal on Janpath near Connaught Place spotted a group of beggars waiting for prospective almsgivers by the roadside. As soon as the vehicles stopped at the traffic signal, one of them briskly walked up to a taxi and began pleading for alms, not bothering about several other vehicles nearer to him.

A close look revealed that there was a foreigner sitting in the taxi. The foreigner immediately fished out a 50-rupee note from his pocket and handed it over to the beggar. The excited beggar ran away with the money without bothering the others waiting at the signal.

Even though it is an offence to give alms to beggars or buy goods from hawkers at traffic signals, the order is being flouted with impunity by many, with the traffic police preferring to look the other way. Beggars, mostly women and children, can still be seen crowding traffic intersections obstructing the flow of traffic.

- Devesh K. Pandey

Bridging national boundaries

Bridging boundaries through words, two Swedish authors, Helen Rundgren and Eva Swedenmark, got a chance to interact with their Indian counterparts at a meeting organised by the National Book Trust in the Capital this past week.

With long years of publishing experience behind them, they both shared views on the status of children's books in their country. Not just about entertainment, books go a long way in shaping the personality of children. Books and reading, they emphasised, "help children develop language skills, understand the world, their own inner world as well as other people's emotions''.

A noted name in publishing in Sweden, Ms. Rundgren has not only written award-winning books for children but also scripted for televisions. Her work has been translated into many Nordic languages including Turkish and Estonian.

Ms. Swedenmark, who is touring with her, has a similar reputation. She is an established writer and journalist and has published 20 books for kids.

-- Mandira Nayar

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