Dream Roads of India- the standard
Posted : October 26, 2004 at 8:03 pm [IST]
Stephen S. Roach, MD and chief economist, Morgan Stanley, visited India recently. In the ‘Business World’ November 1, 2004 he writes in an article.
“I had been told that the Mumbai-Pune expressway was Chinese-like in modern construction. For a nation with a glaring infrastructure deficiency, maybe this was a hint of how India might close that gap.
The physical experience of the drive bore little resemblance to several comparable journeys that I have made in China. It took about three-quarters of an hour to snake through the outskirts of Mumbai before we actually reached the expressway itself. The road was certainly a huge cut above any other motor routes I had been on in India - especially the three-hour trek from New Delhi to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. But by Chinese standards, I would rank the six-lane, barely-divided Mumbai-Pune expressway a B-minus, at best. The exit experience was even worse than the approach - a tedious drive on low-quality local roads to get from one company to another. And then there was the equally uncomfortable return-trip to Mumbai - all in all, a six-hour driving experience that left me exhausted, head-spinning, and with a sore back. If this is progress in closing India’s infrastructure gap, the problem is even worse than I had imagined.”
Is not an eye-opener for our planner and a shame for NHAI that is executing the road projects? How do we think India to be competitive with China? I am sure the political bosses and their administrative babus will have hundred and one excuses for this short of situations. But how long we go on finding excuses or be content with whatever is made available by them? The projects of GQ and the n-S and E-W corridors were a pleasant surprise when it got started and then every one declared that as an effort in right direction and a world class project.
I wrote a letter to the then PM, as I felt elated by the promises the NHAI and Dr. Khanduri, the minister-in-charge were making though media. The letter seems to be relevant. It was as follow:
Few suggestions on NHAI’s Projects.
1. A similar Expressway linking Kolkatta to Mumbai is a necessity and should be included in this linking of metro projects.
2. NHAI Projects should be declared as Projects of National Importance. All bureaucrats-IAS, IPS and Judicial- along the NHAI projects should be asked and requested to deal with the cases related to these projects on top priority and without delay. Judiciary can have special cell to handle the civil and criminal cases.
3. All these Express-ways must have a minimum of 6-lanes with three on each side. In the first phase, the third lane may be only simple brickwork. With 2 lanes on each side, the driver is left with only one lane in case a vehicle gets stranded because of breakdown.
4. No construction should be allowed within 100 meters from the road edge. If at all it is allowed, the backside of the construction should face the road and not the front. (I had been to Agra recently. Road near Sikandara is choked with similar constructions. Quality of the surface between Mathura and Agra is very poor)).
5. On each side of the road, at a distance of 2-4 kilometers, a 2-lane road should emerge to go out from the expressway for about a kilometer or so, so that all construction for market and parking is beyond the working zone of the expressway. Same should be for the petrol pumps. A guide plan for these clusters based on esthetic excellence should be made.
6. A massive publicity drive is required for general public for using these roads. Tractors, bullock carts, tempo, two wheelers must not ply on these expressway or should keep to left.
7. Senior professors and road experts, such as Prof. BBPandey of IIT, Kharagpur (to name one0 should be encouraged to visit the on-going construction some time and report directly to Minister.
8. A very senior retired person with reputation from army or police should be appointed as overall Chief Vigilance Officer reporting to Minister.
9. PM must call a meeting of the lead contractors and discuss this case of Dubey and warn them to mend their ways, and also expedite the project. Speed of execution and quality can be enhanced manifold, when resources are not the constraints.
10. PMO should look into the media report and take the corrective action.
Please pass on the suggestions to Minister concerned.
PS: The GQ must be completed before 2004 election. I am an old IITian of 1961 batch and assure you that it is possible
I wrote in another letter that if the work on the projects could be expedited, that in itself will campaign for the ruling party. I was surprised and pleased to get replies of both of my letters. .I wrote a similar letter again to our new PM when Mr. Baalu declared an extension on the date of completion of GQ project by a year. I never received the reply. The new UPA government is linking perhaps these projects also with the old government of BJP, and wish to do some detoxification. Can’t the present PM whom the whole world respects get the roads completed in time and ensure its world class quality?
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
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