Amitabh Shankar
amitabh.shankar@mid-day.com
I am thankful to my stars! I would either have been lynched by a mob or landed in jail Sunday night. Besides, I would have had to live with the guilt and the ignominy of having killed a five-year-old who had done no harm to me, or to anybody, for that matter.
Piyush (5), who had gone to visit the ongoing Global Village fair on the banks of the Yamuna with his family Sunday night, came in front of my bike on the DND flyway. I applied sudden brakes and swerved the bike. I somehow managed to save the life of the kid.
Nobody was injured in the accident, but it highlighted the utter apathy of the administration to the violation of rules on the DND flyway, which provides an access road to the Global Village. More than 300 cars were parked on both sides of the DND flyway where parking is not allowed. All the cars parked belonged to the visitors to the Global Village fair and they were blithely crossing the flyway, where the speed limit for vehicles is 80 kmph. At this speed, it is impossible to apply brakes in time to prevent an accident.
The authorities had blissfully shut their eyes to the violation. The tow away vehicles of the DND authorities were doing the rounds, without bothering about the parked vehicles. I asked the security staff of the DND flyway if some relaxation of rules was made to allow parking on the flyway. The security guard, who apparently had orders from his superiors not to touch the vehicles parked there, said, “The parking lot in the village is full, so the parking is being allowed on the flyway.”
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed, on being approached on the issue, said: “Thank you for bringing the violation to our notice. We will immediately take some action.” Nobody knows what happened later.
The Global Village had come up at the place without clearance from the environment ministry (‘Yamuna bed under siege’ - MiD DAY March 20). As of now, it is a sure shot recipe for disaster.
Courtesy: Delhi MID DAY
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Observations of a 10 year Old on DND ( Delhi – Noida – Delhi) Flyway Management
1. Its only fair that I write on a matter wherein my 10 year old niece has given her considered opinion which on second thoughts has definite merits.
2. On 30 Jul 2008, me & my husband, a retired Army Officer went to the DND Flyway Office (Delhi – Noida – Delhi Toll Road joining Delhi and Noida ) to get a Silver Prepaid Card. Forms filled, payment made, receipts ready etc etc – gave the photocopy of the Retired Officers Identity Card issued by the Army.
3. Since this Document had his Name, Father’s Name, his recent photograph, current address, visible Identification marks, Date of Birth, Thumb Impression etc, etc, and that too Issued by the Indian Army, it was only fair to presume that this as the mandatory Supporting Document with the Application Form would suffice. By the way, this Document is perfectly valid and acceptable when attached with the Passport Form.
4. “ Not acceptable” said the Gentleman on Duty. Excuse me, why was it not acceptable was the question put forth to him. Very – Very Polite he was. And said that he had his orders and needed clearance from some-one higher up. Any way, the illegible Driving Licence was photocopied and given. Accepted.
5. Transaction Completed. But by this time, my niece who was sitting in car and had been duly roasted on account of inclement weather had all the questions for the delay that had ensued. We explained to proceedings to her.
6. A brief of our Interaction on this subject is as follows -
Mausi, Why didn’t the DND people accept Mausa’s Retd Army Offrs ID Card which has all the details that are required by them. Is it not good enough.
Beta, Don’t know. Apparently, it was not good enough for them.
Mausi, Haven’t you seen the Advertisement of Daink Bhaskar – “Zid Karo”. Mausa should have fought it out. Why did he give up. Wish you had called me from the Car.
I would have fought.
Beta, It was nearing Mausa’s Golf Game’s time and you know what Golf is all about.
Mausi, can you get a genuine Retired Army Officers ID Card from the authorized authority after paying a Bribe.
Beta, NO WAY.
Mausi, but we can get a Photo ID Card/ Ration Card/ Driving License/ Passport from the authorized issuing authority after paying a Bribe to them even if all the details in then are fraudulent.
Beta, so I hear.
Mausi, that means that, DND is NOT ready to honor a Genuine Army Document but is insistent on a Document which we can easily obtain after paying a bribe.
Also, Mausi, why did Mausa not give his Voter ID Card or a Ration Card as the proof.
Beta, your Mausa left the Army 15 Years ago and we have been in Noida ever since. We have tried and tried and tried and tried to get a Voter ID Card and a Ration Card for ourselves in the last 15 years but to no avail. We have been advised to pay a Bribe if we want one. But we will not pay.
Mausi, why do DND people need this Identity proof with the Application Form.
Beta, I do not know. These are their rules.
Mausi, rules are fine, but there must be some logic in it.
Beta , No idea whatsoever.
But Mausi, do we have too show ID proof when we pay cash and cross at the DND Barrier.
Beta, No way. We pay for it and we use their facility. That’s it. What a stupid question.
Mausi, if Cash payment is acceptable to DND without proof, why is Advance Payment NOT ACCEPTABLE without proof of Identity.
Also, Mausi, is it a Security Risk for either for the DND/ Delhi/ UP/ National Govt in case a Vehicle passes the Barrier without giving Proof of Identity.
Beta, NO WAY. AGAIN, WHAT A MAHA STUPID QUESTION.
Mausi, if over 90- 95% cross DND without showing ID Proof, what is the logic of ID Proof for pre-paid users.
Beta, Sorry but I have no idea. You definitely have given a point to think about.
Mausi, do we give such like proof to Pantloons / Big Bazaar when they gives us a Discount Card.
Beta, What a Maha Stupid Question. Why should they ask us for anything which will be detrimental for their Cash Flows . By giving us a Discount Card they are inducing us to spend more and hence they make more profit.
Mausi, do you think that more people will buy the Silver Cards without any documentation and in case it was available like the Cell-phone pre-paid card all over. Will they also not collect more money in advance.
Beta, I should definitely think so.
Mausi, I have definitely solved the mystery of the following
· They do NOT accept legitimate ID Cards issued by the Army / Defence Forces.
· On the Contrary, they insist on Proof available of the Shelf in the Market by paying Bribes.
· Insist on ID Proof when it is just not required.
· They will make life at DND easier if more Silver Cards were bought by the Public.
· They do not make the Card available in lower denominations
· By adhering / not adhering to above, they are denying themselves greater monetary collections as advance and Interest on it, etc , etc.
Mausi – I have the Answer – They are just plain Maha Stupid.
Post a Comment