WE THE PEOPLE

WE THE PEOPLE CAN BRING THE CHANGE

Are we Nagpurians prepared for Smart City ?

Recently, our Maharashtra Government has proposed to make Nagpur as a Smart City.  This Government is accountable, within no time it has even started the work and that day is not far when our city will be a smart city.  Looking to the present scenario we must think, whether we Nagpurians are really prepared for smart city ?   The answer is simply NO.  

In progressive India everybody desires to make progress on all count, like our Maharashtra Government too, but we the people at large does not have reciprocal actions for our Government.  It is said that, A city is known from the traffic rules followed on the streets. Just look at the traffic mess, we Nagpurians created to our city.  In our society the number of persons following law is very less than breaking the laws.    Nobody desires to follow the basic traffic rules.  The red signal is there only for 90 to 120 seconds, but we dont have that much patience also.  The four wheelers are dominating the two wheelers and vice a versa.  The pedestrians are dominated by everybody including hawkers, shopkeepers and all vehicles.  The parking problem is very crucial.  Most of the four wheelers parked are actually amounts to an offence of obstacles to the traffic as per Motor Vehicles Act.   

Except the real ambulance there are thousands of ambulances in the form of two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers running on the streets.    Most of the pedestrians are presuming the entire road as zebra crossing, and crossing the roads as per their whims and wish. Not only pedestrians but public on vehicles are moving in the city as if they are roaming in the garden.  We must understand, for speeding the vehicles there are competitions like Motocross, even in garden there is separate provision for walking and playing.  This must be understood truly and followed scrupulously.  

Recently, Maharashtra Government through Traffic Rules and for the safety of the people, asked everybody to wear Helmet while driving two wheelers, and also asked the persons to wear a seatbelt while driving four wheelers.  To my surprise, most of the peoples and organizations started agitation on roads.

  Can we say that public safety is not important ?  Most of the organizations are creating ruckus as if the Government has committed the sin.   The Motor Vehicle Act, as amended up to date is the rule of law.  Do we require notification each time to follow these basic rules? The people always follow the rule at their home but the moment they got out of their house, God knows what happened to them. 

Unless we the people change our mindset, no matter how our Maharashtra Government desires to make this orange city as smart city, we the people will always shatter the genuine efforts of our Government.  Everybody starts taking potshots to the government but never think as to what they have contributed for the betterment of city.   

We the people have to treat the public property as if it is our own property.   In District Court also, recently urinals are reformed, but before the second wing could start working, the urinals in former wings got destroyed.  Even the urinal pipes, taps are removed by the public as if they were belonged to them.  I feel ashamed of the mindset of people.  Similar situations are visible on the streets.  Even if the Government constructs the Urinals, people cannot guarantee about their preservation for a long term. 

We have seen regular accidents on roads and most of them are out of rash and negligent driving and for not following the basic rules of traffic.  Especially, school going kids, females and veterans are falling prey to this menace of speeding.   Not only this we are loosing so many people everyday in road accidents.  Somewhere this needs to be stopped and for that, we have to change the mindset.  If we are the followers of the western culture, then we must follow their way of following the traffic rules in their respective country.   If we follow the basic rules of traffic, that itself would be called a smart city.  In this way we will complete half the work for the government.

It is my earnest request to the Government, to keep back all their genuine efforts to make our city as a smart city for some time unless the people change their mindset and guarantee to perform their duty making their contribution to the Government.  One must understand that, Ignorance of law is not excuse.   The only thing people has to do is to change their mindset, follow the basic traffic rules, assimilate a self imposed discipline, treat the public property as our own property, protect the property, guard the property.  If the people follow these basic steps, it will be a great contribution from the public to our Government in shaping up the dream of smart city.  

At present enhancement of punishment and fine is the real need of this hour.  As compared to the foreign countries the fine amount in India is very much less.  Similarly, it is also required bring the yearly renewal system for vehicles and licenses has to be suspended if the person found committing offence more than twice, so as bring some deterrence in the mind of public.

    It is my earnest request to our Government, to simply force a crackdown on the wrongdoer, enforce all the traffic rules scrupulously and make them feel what they are doing to this city. Unless these casuals are not taken to task, their mindset will not be changed at once.    While summing up, I can only say and pray, Let some wisdom be prevail upon the public, because we the people can bring the change.  So let us change our mindset and strengthen the hands of our beloved Chief Minister, in shaping this city as smart city. 

Jayant Aloni

Advocate