Dear Honorable Mrs Sheila Dixit,

I humbly write to raise a couple of points here –

a. Issues that can be of value to every CITIZEN of the state and can cause positive impact with efficient administration and execution
( Blog posting done in August :common-wealth-thank-our-heightened-sense-of-responsibilities)

b. How to involve responsible citizens to come to the aid of the administration (I know Bagidhari that happens with societies within, but what about the larger picture?)

I. Issues – A few issues based on observations and experiences

A. Building of Crossovers at Metros and other places

METRO STATION – Jasola – A few months ago I had written an email to you from your website, about Metro stations coming up but the pedestrain cross-over bridges not coming up, causing undue sufferings not only to the Metro commuters, but also to the motorists. Imagine, we are playing with life of people and creating too much of stress to every one (not to talk of loss nation suffers on fuel wastage due to traffic snarls). Eventually one fine day after two months the bridge came up… Thanks. I am not sure it came up as a routine or because of my email. Whatever it is, it has been of value to commuters.

But we are repeating the same mistake again and again and again. Should the cross-over bridges not come up along with the stations? Should it be an after thought? of breaking down the walls and the balconies of the metros to fix the bridge (this happened at Jasola)

METRO STATION – Sarita Vihar and beyond – Even after opening up these stations a couple of months ago, I do not see any provision what-so-ever for the cross over bridges. Unfortunately I keep witnessing small accidents, big traffic crawls… at times even the life struggling in the hospital ( a couple of weeks ago, spotted a young man lying on the road near Sarita Vihar metro at 11pm, when passers by took him to the hospital)

Many of the road-over-bridges come up at ridiculous places where the citizen would not cross the road at all… we may want to force them to come and cross there, they will not. We need to find solutions that are pedestrian friendly.

B. Lackadaisical attitude towards implementation – Also lack of civility among citizenry (enforcing)

We keep seeing this every where

a. Parking on roads (especially at heavy traffic places – I have invested hours on at New Delhi station to get rid of unothorized parking by the citizens, autos, taxis… Imagine traffic jam on the road from New Delhi station till minto bridge at 5:30am!!)

b. Violating Traffic Signals – Either lack of implementation or Citizen and police indulging in corrupt practices
c. Trash lying everywhere (trash cabins not placed at the places; are citizens prohibited from using (CP) – police precaution for not using them as they have been used for placing bombs – interesting!!)

…..
….
It can go on and on….

c. CAN WE INVOLVE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS

We should have strong deter-ants for violations – high fines imposed; work on the ways to bring in good enforcement…

Every Indian when goes abroad, sticks to all rules – due to high fines on violations – and strict implementation : People do not get driving license very easily. At times spend more on getting licenses than what a car costs them! Secondly violations are punished severely. Licenses impounded.. who will dare to violate?!!

Spitting and throwing garbage is a common thing here…you will see wrappers of all kinds flying out from cars, houses… what not..

I have done –

• Traffic control at many locations in the city at busiest and odd hours when the traffic lights do not function.
• Got the unauthorized parking cleared at N.Delhi Railway station many a times..(with my cameras hung on my shoulders…)
• Got thrashed by police and put behind Bars for objecting to wrong parking of police vehicle at the entrance of stations….
• Cleaned the roads when garbage trashes are thrown out, to help the perpetrators realize their mistakes…etc. etc. etc..

I am sure there are many who must have done much beyond….the question is..

CAN WE HAVE A PROCESS OF INVITING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS TO BE EYES AND EARS OF THE SYSTEM. CAN WE EMPOWER THEM WITH POWER TO IMPLEMENT. IMPOSE FINES ON THE SPOT ON VIOLATIONS… CAN WE MAKE THEM PART OF THE VIGILANCE AND ENFORCEMENT TEAMS… ACROSS VARIOUS AREAS OF PUBLIC CIVIL DOMAIN..

Looking forward to your response. Will be more than happy to contribute..

R. Sreenivasan,
Citizen of Delhi and India.
http://www.sreeni.org

sreeni@iwsb.in