Let’s first think what we can do as citizens for our city

Let’s first think what we can do as citizens for our city
H S Balram
The Times of India

That Bangalore has suffered a big dent in its brand image because of its crumbling infrastructure, insensitive political leadership and laidback bureaucracy is now known globally. But the fact that its citizens too are to blame for the damage surfaced only after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the city, saw the mess and spoke his mind out. He said: “Building good roads and driving modern cars isn’t the end-all and beall of progress. Road manners and adherence to traffic discipline are equally important. On the road we lose control of our good senses. We must ask ourselves — Why can’t we be more polite to each other, more caring and respectful of each other?’’

Road rage, associated with cities like Mumbai and Delhi, is manifesting itself in the IT capital. The once peace-loving Bangaloreans have become rude and intolerant. Non-stop honking, jumping lanes and signals, overtaking from the left, indulging in insults, getting into fights, blinding headlights... they seem to be doing this with a vengeance. They use roads as garbage bins; spit and urinate everywhere. The irony is when the same citizens go abroad, they religiously follow traffic rules, remain patient during jams, observe lane discipline, don’t litter on the roads and don’t spit or urinate in public. What makes them break rules when they return?

Bangaloreans are quick to blame the government for all the ills. They cite narrow and badly maintained roads, chock-a-block traffic, paucity of flyovers, underpasses and subways, inadequate parking space, poorly lit roads, etc. No doubt, it is the responsibility of those who govern to provide good infrastructure. The taxpayers have the right to take them on over these issues. But is road rage the answer? Is it the only contribution that citizens can make? The PM observed: “We Indians behave with great courtesy at home and with our family and friends. But when we go out we leave these good manners. Why should this be so? We must learn to give way to pedestrians, observe rules while overtaking, know how to park and when not to blow a horn. These are simple rules, but their observance makes a lot of difference in our daily lives.’’ Can anyone fault the PM on this?

At one time, whenever a foreigner met a Bangalorean he would sing paeans of the rapid strides that the city had made in information technology. Now, he speaks only of crumbling infrastructure and chaotic traffic. A letter by Charles F to The Times of India is worth reproducing here: “I am a foreigner living in Bangalore, and I’ve never in my life seen such stupidity on the road — it’s a ‘ME FIRST’ attitude. No one pays attention to what they are doing, they drive like they are the only ones on the road. And if they hit you, then it’s your fault — they say you shouldn’t have been there. You don’t need new roads to fix the problem; they will do the same thing on the new roads. You need to pull everyone’s licence away and give them driving lessons and then a road test before you let them drive again. This city better do something before it’s too late (and it may be already too late!). I have never seen such blatant disregard for the law in all my 57 years. Have you ever been to a train crossing, and after the train passes, both sides of the road are blocked. That’s plain stupidity. This city is getting totally out of hand, and if something isn’t done soon, I would hate to see what happens’’.

The letter proves what Bangalore has reduced itself to. This doesn’t mean the city has lost all its glory. It continues to amaze one and all. In the PM’s words, people in the rest of the world know more about Bangalore than they do about India. How not to mar this hard-earned reputation should be the aim of every citizen from now. As one of our readers says, “Bangalored, sure we are ... It’s time to change for Bangalore. Perhaps, it just starts with us’.

PARTING SHOT

Discipline them, please

Autorickshaw drivers are a law unto themselves. They think they own the roads. Everyone else should move away. Try arguing with them, the entire clan comes together and gives you a mouthful and even bashes you up. They decide where you should go, not where you want to go. The other day, a policeman booked an auto driver for jumping a signal. Anyone in his place would have paid the fine and left. But not the auto driver. He collected 50 of his ilk, blocked the traffic and demanded action against the policeman. They dispersed only after senior officials intervened. It is nice to know that the Road Transport Authority, in consultation with the traffic police and the transport department, has now decided to increase the penalties on erring auto drivers 10 times — from the existing Rs 100-300 to Rs 2,000-5,000. If they flout the rules repeatedly, their permits will be revoked. Hopefully, this should discipline them. Or, will this directive too remain on paper, like many in the past?