Monday, July 26, 2010

Dressing Up Delhi

 Image source: thecommonwealthgames.org

What's the hype all about? Okay, I know I was supposed to be on hibernation but something came up today that I just could not ignore. It's going to be a shift from my regular way of writing so kindly forgive me dear readers!

The Commonwealth Games have got the whole of Delhi mad. It was irritating even when it began but now it's crossed all limitations. The hypocrisy of those in power emerges like the blazing sun and burns our vision. The city is being dressed up like a bride- new roads, modern bridges, footpaths renovated, new flyovers, better stadiums, new parking lots- the entire city is being scrubbed and shined for the visitors. All this is great stuff I agree but what the heck does the government mean to do by troubling the residents of the city. Why all this renovation work now? Millions being blown everyday for a few outsiders who are going to visit for a matter of two weeks and go? What about those who live here? Do they account for nothing?

Today I found out from Dopey that the students who lived in hostels on-campus were being forced to move to PG accommodations so that the visiting people could stay there. I mean what the hell? It's sheer beastly, that's what it is. What about those outstation students who can't find a place to move into? Nobody gives a damn? 

Footpaths are being renovated for the visitors. Why was this not done earlier? What about those Delhi citizens who walk these roads every day? Don't they matter? For all this renovation roads are dug up all over. It is impossible to walk in Connaught Place now because there's construction work and debris everywhere. Rains make it worse, it becomes slushy and even worse. To cross the outer circle road is no less than a risky challenge, because there are no subways open right now and no traffic police manning the road for most part of the day and vehicles speed down in a constant stream making it impossible to cross. 

Stadiums are being broken down and built again for those sports persons who are going to come in for the Commonwealth Games. What about our own sports persons? Didn't they deserve better stadiums and better training apparatus? Why is everything being spruced up for CWG 2010? Why was this not done before?

New parking lots, flyovers, and all in that part of the city that shall be visited by those coming for the Commonwealth Games. What about the remaining part of the city? Do they not matter? The citizens who live here, pay the exorbitant taxes, walk down these footpaths, use those roads, practise in these stadiums seem to matter not a whit.

My problem is not with the dressing up. My problem is with why now? We pay for it and it is we who suffer. And instead of showing even an ounce of shame, the Delhi Government proudly says " Come out and play". The audacity is surprising really!!! 

12 comments:

Vinay said...

That's what keeps me wondering too. Why wait for an event to redo a city or sports infrastructure.

This replenishment and upkeep of infrastructure should be an ongoing process. But then, small maintenance contracts do not yield too much bribe money, I guess. Big demolition and construction contracts do.

AldyWaldy said...

Yea..exactly.. its high level bullcrap.. And why make residents suffer for all this development shit..?

I wish something could be done against this kind of rubbish but then what can be done.. It's all in the name of development! :/

Varun said...

You know what will gonna happen in new stadiums after commonwealth? I tell you these will be used for marriage purposes on rent or politicians will use them for some rally.

AldyWaldy said...

Yes Varun, for sure.. and they will decay and rot... Unless of course we host some other event.. Then the city will be polished again and presented to the world.

I had a classmate in college who used to look like a raggedy ann, all plain and ordinary everyday, but the day she had to meet her bf man she was a sight to see! I used to get astonished as to how pretty she managed to look all of a sudden.. This is what is being done to our city! Making it look pretty for people who visit( and honestly, don't really give a damn about the city!) while we, the citizens whose lives revolve around this place don't seem to matter..

Sheer hypocrisy this on the part of the government!

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

u know, just today i was thinking why no dilliwala is not writing about the games and the plight of the city and there u r!

absolutely, why wait for an event to do something?

but i disagree on a point. u said why for a few ppl? see these ppl are going to carry an image of the country, which is so very reqd for our economy etc. so Govt should redo the things but not like this.

gosh, its just 66 or so days left, nothing done !!!


restless

Nishant Singh said...

Commonwealth Games have been nothing but hypocrisy ever since Delhi won the bid to host the games! What will be interesting is if they maintain whatever they have developed for the games once the fanfare has ended?

AldyWaldy said...

@ Restless: By few people I meant to question why the citizens are not as important as those visitors who come in for a few days. I agree the impression they carry is important. But my point is, why wait for that. If they have all this money to shell out for CWG, why did no development work happened before? Why now is what I have an issue with..

AldyWaldy said...

@ Nishant Singh: True..let's see how it eventually turns out.. With stadiums crumbling and stuff, I just hope it does not turn out to be an event of national humiliation instead!!!

Addy said...

I love Delhi! And was so happy with the innovation work, that would make my Delhi so much more awesome, then I read your post.............yeah why would they do that to out Delhi people?
You are so right! Why didn;tI think of it this way before?

AldyWaldy said...

@ Addy: yes, I too am glad for the renovation... But it should not be at the cost of the citizens.. Here the amount of difficulty that people are experiencing is triple the amount of good that will come out of the renovation.. And you know what the saddest part is? When the CWG 2010 is over, no one is going to give a damn about all the renovated stuff.. It's most probably just going to rot away without maintenance as usual..

Sourav said...

In spite of all the controversies and the negativity surrounding the CWG, I really think we should take pride in hosting such an event! With the actions now fastened up, hope it turns out big and successful! :)

AldyWaldy said...

@ Sourav; I agree about the fact that we should take pride but well, I can't help but see the bullshit that is around me coz of the commonwealth games. Floods, dengue, typhoid, displacement, traffic jams, transport hassles, price rise, dug up roads, useless renovation that's already in pieces, this is what in it for a citizen, how do you expect the common man to abandon these daily worries and say "Hurrah! Come out and play"?

Although I hope to hell that they come out a success, the chances of that happening don't seem too bright unfortunately.. I love this city and hope even now that it becomes a success..