The best and worst about Delhi

How many of you avail the Smart Card for commuting by the Delhi Metro?

The Smart Card is valid for one year from the date of purchase or the date of last recharge, whichever is later. These cards can be purchased in denominations of Rs 50 to Rs 800. A ten percent discount is given on all travel made on a Smart Card. A deposit of Rs 50 is needed to buy a new Smart Card. I feel the Smart Card is very convenient for regular Metro commuters.

When my cousin visits us from Chennai, she avails the Tourist Card. These cards can be used for unlimited travels on Delhi Metros over a short duration of time.

 

As a Delhite, I feel very proud of the fact that <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Delhi</st1lace></st1:City> will be hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

This will be the first time that <st1:country-region><st1lace>India</st1lace></st1:country-region> will be hosting the Commonwealth Games. It will be the second occasion that the event will be held in <st1lace>Asia</st1lace>.

The proposed dates for the Commonwealth Games are 3<SUP>rd</SUP> to 14<SUP>th</SUP> October, inclusive of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The <st1lace><st1laceName>Delhi</st1laceName> <st1laceName>Games</st1laceName> <st1laceType>Village</st1laceType></st1lace> has been constructed as a low rise medium development on a 40 acre site in the heart of the capital with an estimated capacity for 8500 athletes and officials.

Aren’t you all excited about the forthcoming event?

 

We are all excited that the Commonwealth Games will be hosted in Delhi and are just round the corner. Many school and college students have already enrolled as volunteers for the Commonwealth Games.
New Delhi has already hosted the inaugral Asian Games and the Asian Games in 1982. Many of the sporting infrastructure in New Delhi like the Yamuna Velodrome and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium came up during this period.
Unfortunately, the common man has to bear the brunt of all the massive construction activity taking place. In addition, to Commonwealth Games projects, the Delhi Metro too has speeded up its projects so that Metro lines are in place before the Games.
Still, I am proud to be a Delhite.

 

It is indeed a matter of great pride and honour for any Delhite. The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event that is held every four years involving the superior athletes of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace>Commonwealth of Nations</st1lace>.

Presently, there are 53 Commonwealth Nations and 71 participating teams. The Games involves almost 5000 athletes and is one of the largest international sporting events in terms of participants. The Games includes some sports that are played mainly in the Commonwealth countries such as netball, rugby sevens and lawn bowls.

Five Thousand NCC Cadets will help organize the Games in <st1:City><st1lace>Delhi</st1lace></st1:City> this year. The Director General NCC Lt Gen RK Karwal has said that the process of selecting the cadets for the purpose has already ben completed.

 

I hope I can visit Delhi during the Games!!!

 

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:date Month="1" Day="8" Year="2010">Friday, Jan 8, 2010</st1:date> saw one of the worst traffic jams that <st1:City><st1lace>Delhi</st1lace></st1:City> has ever witnessed. Persisitent fog, construction work at <st1:Street><st1:address>Connaught Place</st1:address></st1:Street> and the Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan held traffic of the busy city hostage till late afternoon.

Vehicular movement almost came to a standstill on several arterial roads. Commuters had to jostle for hours at a stretch on several roads. It was a nightmare for motorists.

The worst hit were Ring Road, <st1:Street><st1:address>Bhairon Road</st1:address></st1:Street> and <st1:Street><st1:address>Mathura Road</st1:address></st1:Street>, precisely the roads encircling Pragati Maidan. The effect of the congestion could be felt up to UP Border, Asram Chowk, Rajghat and Nizamuddin. It goes without saying <st1:Street><st1:address>Connaught Place</st1:address></st1:Street> was also affected.

 

Yes, you are right. Friday proved to be a terrible day with all that jam on the roads.
One reason for the jam on the Delhi roads is the number of vehicles on Delhi roads. It is well known that Delhi has more vehicles than the total vehicles of the other three metros i.e. Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Despite the Govt of Delhi building umpteen flyovers all over the city, the jams refuse to go away. Everytime there is a spell of heavy rain, a trade fair/auto expo - there is a big jam. This is the state of affairs when the affordable "Nano" cars are few and far between in Delhi.
I wish there was an official policy discouraging people from buying more and more cars.

 

Dear Bandana
You are right Bandana. The ever growing number of cars in Delhi pose a great headache for planners. I find that jams are a regular feature during the monsoons.Everyone is in a rush to reach home and roads are invariably jammed with broken down cars/scooters, big trees which have fallen down or potholes/puddles.
Finding space for parking the growing number of cars is a nightmare and often leads to fights. Every year, we do get to hear of parking fights in colonies/residential areas which turn violent and someone gets injured.
Then, of course the younger generation with its penchant for fast cars blows its fuse at the slightest provocation leading to road rage or mows down people in a drunken spree a la the BMW case.

 

Dear Anandi, Bandana and Sushma,

I believe, the construction work at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:Street><st1:address>Connaught Place</st1:address></st1:Street> adds to the woes of the commuters, as it blocks half the carriageway. The scenario became worse on last Friday morning because of the breakdown of a truck on Moolchand Flyover in <st1lace>South Delhi</st1lace>. This occurred early in the morning, due to fog, and disrupted the flow of traffic till afternoon.

It is indeed an irony, that just the previous day, the Delhi Traffic Police had promised smooth traffic during the Auto Expo. But little was done to keep the word. The traffic congestion that began during the peak morning hours continued till late in the evening.