A study in Contrast

Traffic haywire after cave-in
A STAFF REPORTER

The subsidence near Raj Bhavan threw the morning rush-hour traffic haywire, forcing police to change the route chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy takes on its way to Writers’ Buildings.

Traffic on the road in front of the western gate of Raj Bhavan, part of which caved in, was suspended for almost half an hour till police put in place an effective diversion plan.

“From 9am to 9.25am, traffic was suspended along the road. From 9.25am, all vehicles heading south down Council House Street was diverted through BBD Bag North, BBD Bag East and Old Court House Street,” said a senior traffic police officer.

Vehicles heading for NS Road from Strand Road were asked to travel further north in an attempt to minimise congestion in the central business district.

The chief minister had to make a detour on his way to office from his Palm Avenue residence.

Bhattacharjee’s convoy was diverted through Government Place North from Council House Street. It then travelled through Old Court House Street, BBD Bag South, NS Road and BBD Bag North to reach Writers’.

Vehicles heading towards Red Road was allowed to ply down the stretch where the cave-in occurred after 2pm, by which time the crater had been fenced.

Traffic crawled along the stretch, with cops struggling to manage the situation over their manpacks.

The ripple effect of the cave-in and the subsequent diversion of traffic left several arteries choked and vehicles jostling for space. The affected stretches were RR Avenue, Red Road, Mayo Road and Goshto Pal Sarani.

“Things became difficult when judges were heading for the high court. There cannot be any hold-up on a judge’s way. The same thing happened in the evening but we managed to pull it off,” said a senior officer.

Portions of two roads cave in, traffic disrupted on Delhi's Ashoka Road
PTI, Aug 18, 2010, 12.22pm IST

NEW DELHI: Portions of two roads in Lutyens Delhi caved in due to rains affecting traffic in the area today.

For the second time in three days, a portion of Jaswant Singh Road near Andhra Bhavan caved in due to overnight rains creating problems for commuters passing through Ashoka Road. On Monday also, the same road had caved in.

Vehicular movement was also affected on Rajesh Pilot Marg towards Hotel Claridges as a portion of the road caved in.

Commuters said they had a difficult time reaching Connaught Place and Parliament Street.

A senior police official said adequate personnel were deployed to manage traffic on the stretch.

The official said vehicles were moving at a slow pace on Rao Tula Ram Marg to Moti Bagh due to an uprooted tree while breakdowns of vehicles affected traffic on Outer Ring Road in Mukundpur, Rohini and Seelampur.

Rains have led to waterlogging in many areas like Lajpat Nagar, Ashram, Kailash Colony, Gulmohar Park, Ashram, Moolchand and Gupta Market last night.

Coincidently, the above two news items have come on the same day.
The first is from Kolkata and the second from Delhi.
The sewers in Kolkata were made in 1867, that is around 150 years ago.
The roads in Delhi were made only recently, maybe just 5 or 10 years ago.
Do I have to say any further of the corruption existing in India after Independence.
And these leaders want an increase in salary and would like us to remember the freedom fighters while they continue looting the country.
I would suggest their salaries are reduced rather than increased just like an employee is demoted if he does not perform.