Driving on NH8 to Palghar--- Work n Pleasure

Today I went to Palghar for work and was driving myself against popular wisdom….I still love to drive even if it is tiring… It’s a 93 km one way journey…I had experienced a lot of traffic jams on the road previously when road widening and flyover construction was in full swing, so was mentally prepared for the same this time around… I was pleasantly surprised to see a six lane highway with flyovers every kilometer making it a very very smooth ride but for the errant  container Truck and Multi axel truck drivers….They drive like they are in USA on Indian roads…. So car drivers like me  were forced to drive in Indian Slow lane while our speed was like Fast lane in USA …confusing but sadly true….If only all of us honor the Lane discipline I feel 70% accidents will be reduced….What I and other car drivers were doing was fraught with risk but what the H***…On such a nice road if you are forced to drive at 30kmph its insulting…..Another dangerous thing on the otherwise lovely road was, it narrowed from 3 lanes to two lanes every now and then ( widening work still not complete) again increasing the risk of accident for speeding cars in INDIAN Slow lanes…..

As they say “ there are no free lunches Onboard”, we have to pay a TOLL for getting such road…I didn’t mind it (Like I had many choices at hand), thinking how much time and fuel I and others will be saving thereby reducing our Crude Import bill ( You have to always think of BIGGER picture if you don’t agree with Govt. diktat), USD demand and ultimately CAD ( current account deficit- for the uninitiated in simple terms a gap between imports and exports) ….. To my utter dismay, there was massive jam at Toll booths with queues at all lanes almost a kilometer  long….Again our habit of not following any rules aggravated the issue, also unlike other Toll collecting areas , this place did not have more booths than the actual lanes , adding to the delay…Thankfully I was in INDIAN slow lane and at a small intersection, local villagers were urging the vehicles to detour a bit and take the dirt roads through the village…I ventured , following the others ahead of me. Though it was only gravel and no road, we were able to cut through most of the jam and surprisingly came on the Highway AFTER toll booth , saving precious Rs.56 as toll ( My observation is that the toll in Maharashtra is roughly a rupee per kilometer)

At Manor I had to take left for Palghar and it was a state Highway from here on…..It was wide enough for three big vehicles and wel maintained so I could maintain my average speed. The moment you leave the highway, dry, dusty  and brown countryside starts(Lush green scenic countryside is in Europe, here its brown all the way in Summer)..Its only mid March but its DRY everywhere…God knows how its going to be in May…..You can’t believe you are just 100 km away from THE MUMBAI. Life is a bit slow, untouched by the glory. One  can see fisherwomen ambling around, daily wagers slogging in brick factories, children going to school merrily…its bordering Tranquility….After passing few hamlets and 18 kms later I reached the Factory for the days work. The return journey was even better and faster though this time I had to shell out Rs.56  and I was back in less than 90 min. On such a busy highway 186 Kms in less than three and Half hours is not  bad overall.

The main trigger for writing this was the need to appreciate the good work being done by NHAI and NHDP in spite of corruption . Though they are not able to build as much as they were when Atalji started the Highway development on larger scale and there is a long way to go for us still, the signs are encouraging.

I have been praising the roads in Gujarat so I thought I must write if I find something similar in My Maharashtra as wel. We had a very very active and strong Public Works Department many years ago which did such a nice job that even if Ministers lately are not doing enough, its still able to shine in its past glory.

Random Thoughts

 While preparing for the new week today The whole of India was confronted with the news of  alleged Suicide of the Delhi Gangrape accused in Tihar jail .

I was confused with mixed emotions as to how one should react. Should we just shrug it off thinking that anyways all of India wanted this rapist Dead or He would have been given death penalty by Court anyways or should we rue the fact that the natural process of Justice was not completed and hence the closure not achieved?

The more I thought I was upset for the  total lack of understanding and gross negligence shown by Tihar jail Authorities and I’m not even suggesting it as alleged Murder…

We have yet again lost an opportunity to deliver effective justice by completing due Judicial process and there by sending out a strong message to the country which would have acted as a Deterrent for future criminals of this Ghastly crime.

Now the death would be registered as “ Suicide”of an accused  without the crime being proven instead of an “Execution” ordered by Judicial System after proving his Guilt….And there is a huge difference between the TWO things….

Anyways, we atleast got to see the photograph of the now dead accused…..

Like the horrible murder of the young girl who was raped in Delhi , galvanized the whole country for Women’s Rights n Plight in the Country albeit for a few days, I hope the Death of this accused brings forth the conditions of our Jails…

Without going into details  just sample this:

1. There are lacs of  undertrials languishing in Indian jails who have served more than the maximum punishment which can be given to them if convicted
2. The average occupancy of our jails is anywhere between 150-190%
3. On and average there is 1 toilet for 100 inmates
4. Its an open secret that You need to buy your security in jail else you will be abused physically and sexually …

That there is an urgent need for some radical steps is an understatement

How about releasing all the undertrails mentioned in 1) above? I know its not  as easy and there will be issues like you release them as what? Criminals who served the punishment or accused not proven guilty or innocent? These are important issues but can be tackled if decided….

I don’t want to suggest that the facilities should be improved in jails though it’s a fundamental right of a citizen , but accused  criminals should not be our first priority when so called normal citizens are unable to have access to basic necessities of life ….

One event and too many things to ponder….