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The procrastination of Bhopali is a historical heritage. The rich cultural heritage of laziness is fondly nurtured and fed with enough stupidity to make it grow to frustrating heights.
Take for example the under-bridge which connects the Arera Colony area to Hoshangabad road. To start with, the under-bridge was built by a local politician just by the side of a nullah. This brain wave originated from the simple fact that railways already had a bridge over this nullah. The bridge was widened a bit, and the nullah was partitioned and shrunk using a stone wall, and the under bridge was ready as a election gift. This was during the winter election season. When the problem of water logging during the rains happened, the elections had been completed. During the rains, this under bridge is filled with water for days. The naka (a manned railway crossing) is perennially closed due to the proximity of the Habibganj railway station. The only viable alternative to cross the railway lines is the Chetak Bridge at Maharana Paratap Nagar. Evidently the traffic jam shifts to this bridge and the square, called the board office square, leading to this bridge. The efficient traffic police of Bhopal stops the traffic from turning right to reach the Chetak Bridge and make them go straight for about half a kilometer, take a U-turn and then come back to the same road. How does it help? Any bodies guess. After many years of successfully waiting, the problem of this “Chalta hai” work done has reached its zenith. The traffic jams are now the order of the day, this time at junction of the before mentioned under bridge and the main Hoshangabad road. After waiting sufficiently, the Bhopal traffic police have come up with a solution that was possible only for a genius. The two wheelers would continue the same way as earlier, while the four wheelers coming towards the Hoshangabad road would turn left go till the Habibganj Naka some 1 km down the road and then take a U-turn. How will this ease the situation? Go figure. The prevailing mentality of the powers that be is to be seen doing something
. Take the case of Kolar road colonies if you want. The entire locality which has grown rapidly over the last few years is connected to the city only by one bridge. Close that bridge and you have effectively cut off the entire locality. Take the case of 10 number market. The main market has over flown to the connecting road of the locality, hospitals and nursing homes have come up at the main residential areas.
. Take the case of Kolar road colonies if you want. The entire locality which has grown rapidly over the last few years is connected to the city only by one bridge. Close that bridge and you have effectively cut off the entire locality. Take the case of 10 number market. The main market has over flown to the connecting road of the locality, hospitals and nursing homes have come up at the main residential areas.
As has been mentioned earlier, this postponing of problem comes as part of our heritage. However, today the Bhopali was shocked to find that the municipality has actually taken action and stopped vehicles from entering the New Market area, in an attempt to stop congestion. Although the discussions about a vehicle free zone was in the air for quite some time now, today they have actually done it! In a stark contrast to the heritage of Bhopal, some good work has actually been done.
(Picture: Bhopal year 2020)
Don't know if any of you have ever noticed, the problem multiplies whenever you have traffic police regulating the flow at the Jyoti Talkies square. As a learned friend pointed out, the only solution is to extend the Chetak Bridge to take traffic directly to Link Road No. 1 bypassing both the Jyoti Talkies & Board Office squares.
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