PEDESTRIANS :A FIGHT FOR RIGHT VERSUS MIGHT
August 30th 2007 03:18
75 % of road accidents in the country are owed to the 7% of the city roads. Road rage is a common occurrence in Delhi, infact so common that the common man fails to stand up and take notice, the media fails to draw detailed debate on the issue and the government is still wrapped up in its insensitive slumber.
Even in an LDC (least developed country) like nepal there are messages on roads stating that the pedestrian has the first right to the roads. The capital city of India however, with its many promises and aspirations of being a world class city has no such intentions. Barring the lutyens' delhi with its wide road and pavements (how many of delhites live there anyway!) the rest of the city is at the mercy of the mighty bluelines, CRVs, swanky sports cars and zooming bikers....
The pedestrians in delhi have no space (why were they born anyway?), the footpaths meant for them are encroached by all and sundry in the most rampant manner. The property owners extend onto the footpaths with their boundary walls and vehicles(Saaddi zameen hai!), the shopkeepers with their goods(Humaari dukaan hai ji!) & the advertisers with their hoardings. So the poor pedestrian (Aam Admi) has no place to walk and takes to the road, where the monstrous vehicles are raging, waiting to gobble him up and serve him freedom from his mundane existence.
In the developed world the government has made huge investments to encourage the citizens to take to walking where possible as a step towards reducing carbon emmissions & combating CLIMATE CHANGE as well as improving citizens health (It keeps checks on the burgeoning national health services expenses too). Hamari Delhi however does not believe in such messaging, bhai the government does not have to foot our medical bills! and probably won't remain long enough for the effects of climate change to be seen!
I live in Rajinder nagar and can walk to the main karolbagh market or my ofice/bank at rajendra place, either side of the pusa road has several clinics, hospitals, telephone exhange and some of delhi's most prominent schools, but to get to any of these places and remain alive i decide not to walk, for this main road does not have a single safe pedestrian crossing (The zebra crossings drawn on the road have lost all sanctity for vehicular traffic) and the aam admi has to juggle between the trafiice lights to get to the other side.
If the government does not show that it cares for the people, very soon the people stop caring for the governmnet. Global aspirations can never be built on the graveyard of the common man. The debacle of India Shining without the sparkle in the eyes of the Aamadmi is evidence enough.
Now to the big question, is there any public office - the government or judiciary..or any public forum either an NGO or the media which can take up this cause for the aam admi (Congress party aspires to serve!) walking the streets of delhi in a sustainable manner so as to bring about a positive change? Equally are there adequate safe pedestrian crossings on the main roads and who is responsible for ensuring that there are? And lastly will we pride ourselves to be falling behind even Least Developed Country when it comes to pedestrian rights? or we will get up-stand up and take charge? Will the people the most educated and affluent exhibit some active citizenship?
Even in an LDC (least developed country) like nepal there are messages on roads stating that the pedestrian has the first right to the roads. The capital city of India however, with its many promises and aspirations of being a world class city has no such intentions. Barring the lutyens' delhi with its wide road and pavements (how many of delhites live there anyway!) the rest of the city is at the mercy of the mighty bluelines, CRVs, swanky sports cars and zooming bikers....
The pedestrians in delhi have no space (why were they born anyway?), the footpaths meant for them are encroached by all and sundry in the most rampant manner. The property owners extend onto the footpaths with their boundary walls and vehicles(Saaddi zameen hai!), the shopkeepers with their goods(Humaari dukaan hai ji!) & the advertisers with their hoardings. So the poor pedestrian (Aam Admi) has no place to walk and takes to the road, where the monstrous vehicles are raging, waiting to gobble him up and serve him freedom from his mundane existence.
In the developed world the government has made huge investments to encourage the citizens to take to walking where possible as a step towards reducing carbon emmissions & combating CLIMATE CHANGE as well as improving citizens health (It keeps checks on the burgeoning national health services expenses too). Hamari Delhi however does not believe in such messaging, bhai the government does not have to foot our medical bills! and probably won't remain long enough for the effects of climate change to be seen!
I live in Rajinder nagar and can walk to the main karolbagh market or my ofice/bank at rajendra place, either side of the pusa road has several clinics, hospitals, telephone exhange and some of delhi's most prominent schools, but to get to any of these places and remain alive i decide not to walk, for this main road does not have a single safe pedestrian crossing (The zebra crossings drawn on the road have lost all sanctity for vehicular traffic) and the aam admi has to juggle between the trafiice lights to get to the other side.
If the government does not show that it cares for the people, very soon the people stop caring for the governmnet. Global aspirations can never be built on the graveyard of the common man. The debacle of India Shining without the sparkle in the eyes of the Aamadmi is evidence enough.
Now to the big question, is there any public office - the government or judiciary..or any public forum either an NGO or the media which can take up this cause for the aam admi (Congress party aspires to serve!) walking the streets of delhi in a sustainable manner so as to bring about a positive change? Equally are there adequate safe pedestrian crossings on the main roads and who is responsible for ensuring that there are? And lastly will we pride ourselves to be falling behind even Least Developed Country when it comes to pedestrian rights? or we will get up-stand up and take charge? Will the people the most educated and affluent exhibit some active citizenship?
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