T3 or Terminal 3, a swanky new terminal was inaugurated at the Delhi International Airport. It is supposed to be the fifth largest terminal in the world and is impressive by any given standards. Of course, why is Delhi getting beautified so rapidly is in preparation for the foreign guests and visitors who would arrive in India for the Common Wealth Games. It is all very good to build infrastructure. We all have been demanding this for a long while now. But to me it seems like mere whitewash. Remove slums, dislocate people and hardly concentrate on any local infrastructure, but try to build large airports.
No one seems to want to improve the train stations, and the general quality of train coaches, food and amenities in Indian trains. Most Indians take trains, and most visitors also take these trains to travel around the vastness of India. Do you think it is enough to impress outsiders by a beautiful airport, but leave them at the mercy of potholes, traffic-dense roads once they are out of that airport?
This is the way India is with its large slums as part of the sprawling metropolises. What, we in India, need is a balanced outlook to development. Work on trains and public transport, environment and housing, gardens and playgrounds. The approach cannot be to let the all-pervasive corruption eat into all the funds demarcated for development, and then do the stupid whitewash job aimed at impressing someone when you know very well that just a scratch beneath the surface and the paint will come peeling off.
The single biggest problem threatening India’s growth is corruption at all levels, and no political party does anything except make some superficial noises. It is understandable because everyone from top to bottom in every party is corrupt. That is the sad state of Indian affairs.
Something very strange is happening here. I put up this post in the morning, and all the comments posted are not appearing here. I wonder why this is happening?
I don’t know why but I love old-fashioned airports. Like the one in Colombo Sri Lanka…
One thing that worries me is the huge development for the sake of games can cause a huge strain on the people’s pockets..
But it might do good in the sporting arena
I am posting the comments, which did not appear here yesterday. There was some problem with blogger
BK Chowla, has left a new comment on your post “Image building for the world”:
What can be more funny than the PM, while inaugurating T3, says it shows India’s power.
Rly stations are neglected because those are in BHARAT and airports are in INDIA.
Unless we remove the difference between the two, problems will persist.As for corruption is concerned, it no longer is an issue in the country.
Jaanvi has left a new comment on your post “Image building for the world”:
You are right. There is such a major lack of balanced approach that hardly anyone notices the day to day struggles a common man has to face. Few days back, I read a report about a cardiologist who gave up the dream of building state of art cardiac hospital in Kashmir because of the heavy bribes he was being asked to pay at every juncture. Don’t know how this will change…
Bart has left a new comment on your post “Image building for the world”:
Amen. If you look at a meta-level, then governments around the world are all the same. Here in The Netherlands we have several large scale infrastructure projects who have gone over-budget three or four times.
The senate invited a professor who had done research on this kind of situation. This jaded man just shrugged his shoulders and explained them it happens everywhere. Either stop doing large projects, or be prepared for it and keep the negative feedback loop running….
It’s a bit depressing, but I guess humans aren’t built to do accounting for large scale projects.
SUFFIX has left a new comment on your post “Image building for the world”:
Comparatively certain amenities are getting better, but they should be done rapidly, well said Rachna, let us hope the best.
@Agnes I like large, convenient airports.
@Jon Yes, provided these facilities are put to good use and not left to rot.
@BK Chowla You are right on both the counts. No one cares for the poor in this country,and no longer does anyone care for corruption either. It has been accepted to be a part of our lives.
@Jaanvi Yes, you are correct. We have to struggle so much around the red-tapism all actually leading to bribing, that an honest person is left disillusioned and disheartened.
@Bart Yes, the psychology could be the same everywhere. But, the basic difference is that in NL, there is adequate development, and the basic needs of all your citizens are satisfied. In India, the situation is so pathetic. There are people who live under conditions so unimaginable, yet, no one cares for their plight.
@Suffix Things are getting better, but the pace is really, really slow.
Hey mine too.. one guy posted his comments i approved but it didnt appear!!
@jon I left a comment of Blogger help, and they rectified it. Apparently, a lot of other people were facing the same issue too going by the number of complaints I saw there. You could just copy-paste the comments now on your post, which did not appear.
Truly said rachna, its like a beautiful ad to a bad product, the airport impresses, but valued is their experience within our nation, and how & whom to rectify those.
The serious issue is that India is getting opportunities, in a global level.But all these opportunities are swapped into the hands of the corrupted officials, and politicians.. God save this country..
@Readers Dias and Anulal Very valid observations by both of you.
Hi Rachana, hey….you changed your pic in your profile? Very nice.
Anyway, well spoken, Rachna. We here fairly often get to watch TV documentaries of India….
and seeing the horrendous traffic in the big cities, as well, the trains and untidy stations….it shows local politicians busy over 3 hour lunches, as well busy having meetings to notice what’s going on.
To me to be a politician, we must learn to lie and pretend to look busy…and again, to me all politicians are liars!
Include ones here in Canada.
Its a pity we cannot punch a politician….as I sure would love to….the one I voted for lied to us he will not raise taxes…he did, 5 times!! Lee.
@Uncle Lee all politicians are liars, and they are the worst and the most exploitative in India. I would like to much more than slap the slimeballs, we have here.