So you have managed to negotiate the pedestrians and the cattle.....but watch out.....particularly in foggy winter evenings or rainy monsoon days......that is the time the municipal authorities suddenly remember that the central median has to be restored and decorated. So there may be loose blocks of stone scattered around the central verge. If you were among the last ones before the light turned red, the motorist behind you....remember he must be also trying to beat that light....would never be able to know the reason for you slowing down. Thank heavens that you would be alive if the one behind you is not a Bus.
Why do authorities do this 'road maintenance' in the monsoon.....because they want the city looking 'beautiful' come the Independence day (August 15). Why do they do it in the foggy winter because again they want the Republic Day (January 26) Chief Guest - some despot from a neighboring developing country - to feel that India is beautiful.
While in New Delhi you could be caught in long queues of waiting vehicles because of the 'VIP movement'. Whenever the senior leaders of the ruling party, the Prime Minister, zillions of ex-Prime Ministers, Presidents, Lok Sabha (the Parliament of India) Speaker decide to go out....the traffic for miles around their path is stopped by the police. I haven't understood for the life of me how that helps any body's security.....it opens up opportunities for the terrorists to cause mass destruction.
Similar is the case when traffic police create 'slalom' like temporary barricades on already congested roads, mostly in the dusky evening time. A policeman with a flashlight is able to see amongst the beams of headlight the right vehicle to stop for questioning !!??
And another example of Indian authority is the bureaucrats from the roads and transport ministries who get chauffeur driven cars. They sit reading their morning paper while being driven through the congestion, around the barricades, between cattle. Of course they also do not need to park their cars......Parking Chaos in the next edition.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Pedestrians and Animals
Driving in Delhi (दिल्ली) must be one of the toughest. In this series of articles I will tell you why. If some one has driven a car in Delhi then he can drive a bus anywhere in the world (slight exaggeration I must admit !!)
The most significant thing is that might is right. Hence amongst various models even in the smallest car segment there is a clear balance of power. An Indica can push a Santro which in turn can easily push a Maruti 800, Zen or Alto. The slightly bigger cars like Esteem, Accent, City and Balenos can likewise push each other. Interestingly however the smaller cars can prove to be a nuisance for the more costlier and bigger cars. This is because the maintenance cost also is high.
Most places in India do not offer much walking pleasure for the pedesterians. People on foot in turn do not also leave any stone unturned (at times quite literally) in making life hell for the motorist; just depends on the place and time. In the day on crowded roads pedestrians just do not bother and dare the motorists to come close. Little street urchins are ot too far behind and they play advenure games of trying to cross the road running across fast coming vehicles. And how can we forget the stray dogs and cattle and at times their leisurely herdsman. Herds of Cows, Sheeps and goats are common, but at times herds of camel can be seen in Gurgaon and one can also see Elephants sauntering on the roads of Delhi. The biggest hazard among the animals are the cows and bulls lazing in the middle of the highway or those that decide to cross the road after having grazed the plants on the median.
This is just the beginning - wait for more hazards on the roads of the National Capital region (NCR) of India - Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faidabad, Ghaziabad
The most significant thing is that might is right. Hence amongst various models even in the smallest car segment there is a clear balance of power. An Indica can push a Santro which in turn can easily push a Maruti 800, Zen or Alto. The slightly bigger cars like Esteem, Accent, City and Balenos can likewise push each other. Interestingly however the smaller cars can prove to be a nuisance for the more costlier and bigger cars. This is because the maintenance cost also is high.
Most places in India do not offer much walking pleasure for the pedesterians. People on foot in turn do not also leave any stone unturned (at times quite literally) in making life hell for the motorist; just depends on the place and time. In the day on crowded roads pedestrians just do not bother and dare the motorists to come close. Little street urchins are ot too far behind and they play advenure games of trying to cross the road running across fast coming vehicles. And how can we forget the stray dogs and cattle and at times their leisurely herdsman. Herds of Cows, Sheeps and goats are common, but at times herds of camel can be seen in Gurgaon and one can also see Elephants sauntering on the roads of Delhi. The biggest hazard among the animals are the cows and bulls lazing in the middle of the highway or those that decide to cross the road after having grazed the plants on the median.
This is just the beginning - wait for more hazards on the roads of the National Capital region (NCR) of India - Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faidabad, Ghaziabad
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