'Walking is good for health' is an age old health tip, which like many other ancient pieces of wisdom, if followed in the new world, will have disastrous results. Walking on a road in any Indian city, big or small, is fast becoming a sure prescription for trouble. Every new day tells a new gory tale of a morning walker being crushed by a speeding truck or a wayward car etc. etc.
The proverbial footpaths / pavements have completely vanished. During the day, they are turned into food stall plazas or linear flea markets or godowns or casinos and are given many other forms. During the night, they are turned into illegal parking lots, where all kinds of vehicles are parked in all kinds of zig-zag fashions. Anyone venturing to use the footpaths / pavements for stealing some winks of sleep may find himself parked in his heavenly abode having been transported there by inebriated ( with spirits, wealth and power) elite drivers of fancy vehicles.
The good old zebra crossing has lost its glory and respect. The pedestrians are prevented from using it by all the vehicles crowding over it ahead of the others who have stopped there somehow.
The traffic lights are viewed by the vehicle drivers as unwanted hindrance to the flow of traffic. The red light is more often jumped than respected. It is not only the motor bikes and the auto rickshaws that violate the traffic lights but even the government controlled public transport vehicles show no mercy.
The condition of the roads is even more pathetic and the movement of traffic thereon more horrific. The vehicles move, stop, overtake and turn at will. There are no lanes and no lane boundaries. The concept of one way traffic has evaporated. All roads are now any-which-way zigzag roads.
Crossing a road is a venture fraught with risks of grievous injury. I used to detest the ubiquitous auto rickshaw but no longer. Now I find it cheaper and safer to hire an auto rickshaw for crossing the road.
I am very much inclined to propose to the government to put along all traffic ways big hoardings saying
"Statutory Warning: Walking on Road Will Sure be Injurious- Use a Vehicle or Still Better Stay Put at Home "
The proverbial footpaths / pavements have completely vanished. During the day, they are turned into food stall plazas or linear flea markets or godowns or casinos and are given many other forms. During the night, they are turned into illegal parking lots, where all kinds of vehicles are parked in all kinds of zig-zag fashions. Anyone venturing to use the footpaths / pavements for stealing some winks of sleep may find himself parked in his heavenly abode having been transported there by inebriated ( with spirits, wealth and power) elite drivers of fancy vehicles.
The good old zebra crossing has lost its glory and respect. The pedestrians are prevented from using it by all the vehicles crowding over it ahead of the others who have stopped there somehow.
The traffic lights are viewed by the vehicle drivers as unwanted hindrance to the flow of traffic. The red light is more often jumped than respected. It is not only the motor bikes and the auto rickshaws that violate the traffic lights but even the government controlled public transport vehicles show no mercy.
The condition of the roads is even more pathetic and the movement of traffic thereon more horrific. The vehicles move, stop, overtake and turn at will. There are no lanes and no lane boundaries. The concept of one way traffic has evaporated. All roads are now any-which-way zigzag roads.
Crossing a road is a venture fraught with risks of grievous injury. I used to detest the ubiquitous auto rickshaw but no longer. Now I find it cheaper and safer to hire an auto rickshaw for crossing the road.
I am very much inclined to propose to the government to put along all traffic ways big hoardings saying
"Statutory Warning: Walking on Road Will Sure be Injurious- Use a Vehicle or Still Better Stay Put at Home "
