KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED
Thanks to the coming Commonwealth Games, Delhites are waking up to new infrastructure everyday. It may be flyovers, metro-lines or construction of new buildings and parking places coming up all over town. It is of course leading to chaos, mismanagement and commuting problems for the ordinary man. But hopefully all this will be over soon and the aam aadmi will really feel that the Commonwealth Games being hosted in capital did them some good.
The Government did come into heavy criticism about the aam aadmi from the rich and famous for the BRT being built in the capital. But now when you see the flow of traffic more regulated even car-walas do thank the Chief Minister for this good work. I was crossing one of the stadiums which have just been spruced up for the coming Games. I could not help but feel a bit apprehensive about the kind of chaalu work that’s been done. It looked really dicey. Everyone in Delhi whether it be the Cabinet Secretary, the general administration, politicians or the aam aadmi are keeping their fingers crossed that the preparations for the Commonwealth Games should not only be finished in time but also that the infrastructure that is being prepared for the Games should be strong enough so that no incident takes place which could mar the whole process and shame the nation.
The war between the Sports Ministry and the Commonwealth Secretariat is a well known fact. The amount of funds which have been diverted into the preparations for this great sporting event is not really a total waste. After the Asian Games we did after all, see a new Delhi. It was in the form of flyovers, new international quality hotels, new roads, new stadiums, more greenery and the capital gained lot of global awareness. Lots of new trees were planted for this great event. It was Rajiv Gandhi at that time who along with his young new force took the management for hosting the Asian Games. And what a success it was.
The Commonwealth Games have already given Delhites a quicker way of travelling in the Metro, cleaner bigger roads and a much needed cleanliness drive in the city. You have new public amenities and cleaner markets. Connaught Place looks all polished up while even Khan Market is getting a face lift. New trees have been planted, the new airport will be ready and you have to be proud of the new air-conditioned low buses. The ordinary man can even rush from Delhi to Gurgaon in the new clean air-conditioned Metro. Wow! Well lit shaded new bus-stops come as a bonus now.
Is it too soon for me to say all this? Will the Commonwealth Secretariat able to deliver the goods? We are keeping our fingers crossed as we zip pass all the new constructions happening in the city. Every morning we get up to new scandals in the Commonwealth Management. But we are still hopeful that things will finish in time without any hassle and the Commonwealth Games will also not see any mishap. God willing! If that happens the scandals, fights will be forgotten and forgiven. We then really don’t care who has a percentage where. Or, how much was given underhand or who made how much money. It is the done thing now. What is worrying and will not be forgiven is if the tax payer’s money which is being used will not give us facilities which are top class and the standard of infrastructure are not those that will give way over our heads one day and take the lives of the poor. Then the man in-charge will have to answer. But as usual, that may be too late and too far away for justice.
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