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MAGIC BOXES IN BANGALORE

You may be wondering that what these magic boxes are….!! When I saw the news clipping in local dailies, my impression was that these magic boxes have something to do with black magic or magicians…! But later came to know that the magic boxes in Bangalore are some of the permanent solutions discovered by infrastructure experts in Bangalore.

Here is the concept:
since there is no sufficient land and time available to expand the roads or to construct additional culverts or again to build flyovers and similar infrastructure, the authority decided to make pre-casted concrete boxes/blocks in the outskirts of the city. they believed that this would reduce traffic congestion and public inconvenience. As these boxes are ready, they brought it to the City where they wanted to make additional underpasses or flyovers. The method is as simple as putting one above the other, or one after another. No time waste....No public inconveniences...!!

They were so talkative in claiming that the construction of such infrastructures would possibly take just a couple of days or maximum a week time.

The intention was good, but the methodology adopted and the planning done was a sub-standard one. The concept of making additional facility has created another never ending traffic jam and more number of bottle necks. The time taken to make five or ten meter long underpass was more than two months....drastic change from what they claimed.....The disturbances and inconveniences created to the public were/are so pathetic and never ending.

You might have seen beautiful but low coast flyovers, over bridges and under passes in City like Delhi, in India. When I re-visited Delhi just after 6 months, I could not recognize the place I lived for past five years. The infrastructure development was so marvelous, quick and fantastic.

Government has the right and responsibility to construct advanced and comfortable infrastructure for the public for which they collect the tax. Every year thousands of crores of rupees are collected from people like me in the name of the countries progress and development. Every scruple means they use to collect the tax. today there is no service and customer goods available in the country without a tax component. Then why at least 50 % of this money is effectively utilised for the public welfare....?

Developmental Action in our country has become a theme of political gains. Just before any election one or more projects are announced, but never looked after once the election is over. Unfortunately the citizen of India are not at all reactive and responsive to issues like this. Now Bangalore life has become miserable due to the infectious thinking of the policy makers and vested interest of the executing agencies.

The authority should start thinking in broader perspective. Long term measures should be taken up with foresight and good intentions, instead of temporary eye wash.

Dr. Devasia