Some days ago while riding alongside a white haired cyclist with our progress impeded by a slow and erratically moving three-wheeler, pat came an observation from the cyclist. “In sab ko bimari ho gai hai,” said the cyclist trying to balance amidst repeated halts while his mind and leg muscles seemed to be aching to pedal off swiftly from a scene where he suffered people lacking traffic sense — ignoring everyone else but themselves. With the three-wheeler finally making way for traffic to progress, the cyclist derided the condition of roads and the people using them, before pedaling off energetically from the scene of irritation.
Most road users frequently criticise various aspects of roads and traffic as it is rare for an average road user to not be hassled by any of the problems which ail our roads. Apart from issues pertaining to the quality and planning of road networks, there are issues with traffic regulation as seen in Dehradun where traffic jams have now become a prominent feature of daily life. Then there are those who use vehicles dangerously and the accidents which kill and injure an alarming number of people across the State on a regular basis. It seems odd that despite the masses experiencing these issues daily, both the society and the establishment continue to accord little importance to facilitating the beneficial and safe use of roads.
Since the Romans purportedly built the first paved road, this major aspect of infrastructure has come a long way. In Uttarakhand, till some years ago a considerable number of villages in the mountainous regions were without road links. The road network has been expanding and is now considered synonymous with development even though many during the Chipko Movement some decades ago protested against construction of roads fearing that motor roads would ruin their farming and way of life. Now roads and infrastructure are a major aspect of governmental effort supposedly aimed at bringing about overall improvement as in the case of the Union Government’s all- weather road project for the State. Not everybody agrees with this, but what everybody will agree with is that life as we know it today might be unimaginable without motor roads and vehicles. Walking, riding horses and mules or cycling would be the few options for transport in the absence of roads and vehicles. Old timers in Doon talk about trekking to Mussoorie while most of us now face congestion and other issues faced by those driving to Mussoorie. One cannot revert to the old days but then can we continue to be so ignorant of an aspect that plays such a decisive role in our individual and collective livesIJ
Roads and traffic are not entertaining issues for discussion even though they frequently mean the difference between life and death, between a very difficult situation and a convenient enjoyable state. The state of roads and traffic is also an indicator of the priorities of the Government and mentality of the public. For example, many areas of Dehradun face traffic jams during the afternoon when the schools close for the day. Parents of students park their unnecessarily large four-wheelers on narrow roads, large buses and army trucks enter and get parked on roads not meant for such vehicles. Those violating the law by parking on the road are actually protected by the police while other citizens are made to take detours. Dalanwala, East Canal Road, Subhash Road, Haridwar Road and various other prominent localities in town have traffic jams daily during school closing time. It is stated that those running the schools are not taught the law or civility by the establishment also because the children of all types of public servants study in these schools too. little do they wonder about what their children learn in schools where the parents are made to generate traffic jams caused by lack of basic civic sense and little respect for the law. It has been practically demonstrated often that following the regulations and using common sense on the road is safe for us, saves us money and time while also taking us from point A to point B as desired. Still, we obstinately reject what is good for us.
One cannot expect that insensitivity and disdain for law exhibited on the roads will remain limited to roads. It enters other aspects of life and society as is evident from the rise in various types of pollution in a place famous for its environment.
As some see lofty visions of ‘smart cities’ and progress, one hopes that we will rise above the mental poverty which prevents us from sensible and profitable use of roads.