BRO Signboards that make you smile

— Photo: PTI

SIGN OF THE TIMES: A signboard erected recently by the Border Roads Organisation along the Leh-Manali national highway.
Leh: ‘I am curve[a]ceous, Be slow!'
This is one of the many messages put on signboards along the Leh-Manali national highway here to guide drivers about narrow turns and traffic rules.
This innovation of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a nodal agency under the Government of India involved in construction and maintenance of crucial road infrastructure for the armed forces in inhospitable and far-flung border areas, has caught the fancy of tourists.
“It is interesting to find such funny boards on roads. These signboards convey serious messages. I really like the idea,” says Christopher, a tourist.
‘Love thy neighbour but not while driving,' reads another one.
Roads maintained by BRO are full of such signboards.
For 29-year-old software professional Aniket, who had come to Leh from Ahmedabad on a motorbike, these signboards are rejuvenating after a tiring stint.
“I have come to Leh a number of times. Every time I see these boards, I forget all my worries and laugh freely. These are indeed an innovative approach to teach people about traffic and roads rules,” he said.
‘This is a highway not a runway,' warns another signboard, asking people to drive slowly.
These boards are visible from a distance of about 200 metres and words are written in large fonts for the convenience of the drivers.
“I am going to suggest officials in my country follow this. How do you people get such ideas?” said a Canadian national, Maya Taylor.
The BRO has been receiving plaudits from people and authorities here for its initiative.
“We have tried to make it innovative so that people feel like reading and following it. We keep thinking of such new messages to teach people about traffic rules and driving,” a BRO official said.
‘Your hurry may be a cause of worry to your family,' says another signboard.
“I wish these kind of signboards are erected by other State authorities too. After all, gone are the days of serious messages. The government needs to change its attitude,” said Raksha, who had come here from Mumbai.
Some of the signboards, which were damaged in a cloudburst on the intervening night of August 5-6 last year, are being revamped by the BRO. Over 250 people had died and 1,400 households were affected in the natural calamity. — PTI
Signboards that make you smile

Can Bombay Sappers help be sought?

Foreign know-how for drainage, toilet, potholes
SOMETIME ago, I don’t remember exactly when – a group of municipal councilors went to London to study the drainage system. They stayed in London for quite a while, looking down the London drains, holding consultations and discussions. What exactly they did during the free time they had – that must have been quite a lot – is not known. On their return, they spoke about London drains. It is not known what suggestions they made and whether any of their suggestions was accepted and implemented. The citizens of Mumbai did not notice much change.
In fact, the drains continue to stink and it looked like the councilors had a good holiday in London. There are so many sizzling things that keep happening in London. ‘strip tease’ for instance.
A couple of years ago, the railways are said to have consulted a UK company to build a toilet at Churchgate. Why a foreign consultation was necessary to build a toilet is not known, but the railways are said to have gone ahead and got the know-how. It must have cost a pretty penny, but having a good, modern toilet was considered absolutely necessary.
India boasts of a great civilization, top scientists were born in the country.
But they could not build a toilet at Churchgate. They had to go for consultation.
There is not much change. The toilet stinks like before. A river of urine keeps flowing on the floor. And there is no smell of any disinfectant.
And now one more ‘foreign happening’ is about to take place.
The Mumbai municipality is reported to be making Herculean efforts to cover potholes which unavoidably occur during the monsoon. All the desperate exercises in this regard for the last ten years have failed. A few showers are enough to create potholes all over the city and suburbs. Whatever they put on the road is evidently some bad stuff. What sort of a surface is it if it cannot withstand a few showers?
The truth is some of the corrupt BMC staff and road contractors want potholes to occur. Hundreds of potholes help them make extra money. It is just unfortunate that we cannot have a road surface that can withstand rain.
And now, this season we are getting German know-how and German products to make roads. There is going to be an experiment: road with German product will be constructed and it will be watched as the rain falls on it. It is quite sad that we have to depend on foreign know-how for tackling drainage, toilets and potholes….
Round up by AR Kanangi:Foreign know-how for drainage, toilet, potholes
Comment: Similar schemes envisaged for Singara Chennai 10 years ago (after visits to Singapore and USA)- All schemes down the drain once monsoon rains lash Chennai City!
Sad commentary on city sewage and storm drains- really they are perennial pipelines for making money by Political Criminals. The citizens safety comes last every time after each election.
Can BEG help Mumbai?
The Bombay Engineering Group, or the Bombay Sappers as they are informally known, are a regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers. The Bombay Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Bombay Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its centre in Khadki, Pune in Maharashtra state. The Bombay Sappers have gone to on to win many accolades in battle throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, both before and after Independence, including the British Victoria Cross and the French Legion of Honour before independence, as well as the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra as part of Independent India. The Group has also made its mark in peacetime activities such as sport, adventure, aid to civil authority and prestigious construction projects. The troops of the Bombay Sappers are renowned for their endurance, courage and valour on the battlefield.

Giant step in Delhi- Metro Rail at your doorsteps

THE BIG LEAP: Over 70 stations will bring Metro closer to everyone in Delhi.
NEW DELHI: If you live in Panchsheel Park, Vasant Vihar, RK Puram, Shalimar Bagh, South Extension, Sarojini Nagar or IP Extension and have been waiting for the Delhi Metro to come to your doorstep, here's some good news. The detailed project report (DPR) of Phase III of the Metro network, submitted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to the Delhi government, has been finalized. It covers 103.05km of the city, with over 70 stations dotting the alignment. From Mukundpur in North Delhi to Azad Nagar and Yamuna Vihar in east Delhi, and from Punjabi Bagh (west) in west Delhi to Panchsheel Park and Jasola in South Delhi, the alignment interconnects the city forming two rings around it.

Transport Minister Arvinder Singh says, "The DPR will be sent to the Centre soon. We have added another corridor to the existing alignment, from Dwarka Morh to Najafgarh. DMRC has been asked to prepare the detailed project report for this corridor as well." The corridors that have been drawn up in the present DPR are final, says Singh. According to the minister, the primary criterion for the third phase of the Delhi Metro was connection to the large tracts of the city in the west and east that had been left out in the two previous Metro phases. South Delhi also needed better connectivity. "The alignment is quite long, perhaps one of the longest in Delhi but it addresses the transport needs of a large section of the capital," adds Singh. It also provides a connection to the domestic airport, an alternative to the present Airport Express Metro line that connects directly to the international airport.

The alignment is certainly extensive. The present alignment has four major corridors - one from Mukundpur to Rajouri Garden via Dhaula Kuan and all the way to Anand Vihar and thereafter, Yamuna Vihar via Azad Nagar in East Delhi. This corridor, which is the longest in the third phase, is 55.69km in length and has 10 interchange stations on the way. It covers a large demography, from the far-flung localities in Mukundpur and Shalimar Bagh to Moti Nagar and Nariana, ultimately connecting it to the business district of Bhikaji Cama Place and commercial hubs such as South Extension and Lajpat Nagar. From here, the line twists towards Hazrat Nizamuddin and then on to Mayur Vihar. Here, it goes through the congested colonies of Trilokpuri and Vinod Nagar before winding to the middle-class IP Extension. The line then again takes a turn and moves towards Anand Vihar, Jagatpuri, Azad Nagar, and on to Welcome, Jaffrabad and Maujpur to end in Yamuna Vihar.

The second corridor, meanwhile, measuring 33.49km, encircles all the major south Delhi localities. Starting from Janakpuri West, an interchange station, it goes through Dabri Morh, Palam and stops at Indira Gandhi domestic airport. Thereafter, it goes on to Vasant Vihar, Munirka, RK Puram, IIT and Panchsheel Park before connecting Chirag Delhi, GK Enclave and Kalkaji to Okhla, Jamia Nagar, Jasola and Kalindi Kunj. The line finally stops at Botanical Garden (part of line 3: Dwarka sector 21 to Noida City Centre) after a station at Amity Noida.

The shortest alignment is perhaps the Jehangirpuri-Badli line at 4.48km in the third phase. The stations on the way include Badli, Rohini Sector 18 and Jehangirpuri in the present DPR, which then connects to Adarsh Nagar station on line 2 (HUDA City Centre-Jehangirpuri).

While the majority of the alignment is elevated under the present DPR, several parts also go underground. Only the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor is completely underground. Of the 103.05km, around 41km is underground track.

According to Singh, work on the third phase is expected to start soon. Singh said, "Part of the funds have already been released by both the Centre and Delhi government. As the work continues, more funds will be made available." As per the funding pattern drawn up by planning commission, part of the funds will be raised from international agencies while around 50% will be put up by the Centre and the Delhi government for the third phase. Singh says that funds are not a problem. "Like the first two phases, the third phase, too, will be funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). We have received positive response from them," he adds. However, no formal agreements have been signed yet, admits Singh.

Officials say work on the third phase will start with the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate and the Yamuna Vihar-Anand Vihar stretches. "The funds made available so far by the Centre and state government will be utilized at present," said an official from DMRC.
Metro Rail is coming to your doorstep

Dr Manmohan Singh appreciates the Gallant Armed Forces

Extract of PM’s Valedictory Address at the Seminar on the Occasion of Golden Jubilee of National Defence College

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh delivering the valedictory address at the International Seminar on “Role of Force in Strategic Affairs”, at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of National Defence College, in New Delhi on October 22, 2010. King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony are also seen. Photo no.CNR - 34194

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony addressing at the International Seminar on “Role of Force in Strategic Affairs”, at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of National Defence College, in New Delhi on October 22, 2010. Photo no.CNR - 34196

Our development ambitions need a favourable external environment. Global interdependence of nations is a growing economic and political reality. It is therefore essential for India to remain actively engaged with the rest of the world so that we can access capital, high technology, energy and knowledge to propel our growth process.

However, we have to be conscious that just as military power alone cannot assure national security, growth by itself is not the ultimate answer to the multiple challenges we face as a nation. Our ability to develop at the pace and in the direction that we wish to will depend on how well we are able to maintain the internal stability and cohesion of our country.

Naxalism and Left Wing Extremism today pose a great threat to our national security. We recognize that there is a development deficit in all parts of our country. But we should be equally clear that the Indian State cannot and will not allow its authority to be challenged.

Our country has been a victim of terrorism for the past more than two decades. Terrorism has been used as a means to destroy the values on which our nation is built. Terrorist groups enjoy patronage and sanctuaries and do not lack in resources. We therefore have to ensure that our capabilities to combat terrorism remain a step ahead of those of the terrorists. They should be left in no doubt whatsoever about our ability and resolve to defeat them.

We have to be prepared to deal with threats to our security from non-state actors and groups. The problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden is a case in point. Non-state actors are becoming increasingly fused and employing the best technologies to target open and democratic societies like ours. We have therefore to modernize our defence doctrines to respond to new and non-traditional threats to our national security.

Cyber warfare is an area of emerging concern. I am glad that our Armed Forces and our other agencies are paying increasing attention to building capabilities and expertise in this very essential area.

Assuring our energy security is another major challenge. We do not have the luxury of choosing between one source of energy and another. We must keep all options open, including that of the nuclear energy. Till such time as we are dependent on fossil fuels we must have the capability of safeguarding the security of the sea lanes of communication. The bulk of international oil cargoes pass through the Indian Ocean and this therefore happens to be a region of vital interest and concern to us.

The scale of social and economic transformation that we seek to achieve for our country is unprecedented. If we succeed in this ambitious enterprise within the framework of an open, democratic and pluralistic society we will I sincerely believe profoundly influence the history of nations in the 21st century. For this to happen, we need peace in our hinterland and in our neighbourhood. We need to strengthen our efforts to make the world a more level playing field. The reality of international relations is that power is unevenly distributed. We should not expect those who have power to willingly part with it. We have therefore to stand up on our own feet to defend the values that define us as a nation.

I would like to conclude by placing on record our country’s deep appreciation to our gallant Armed Forces for their professionalism, valour and contributions to processes of nation building. The military preparedness and modernization of our Forces are matters of the highest priority for Government.

I end by wishing the National Defence College even greater glory in the next half century.”
click here to read full address of PM at NDC

Village gets electricity 63 years after independence

Madhya Pradesh village gets electricity 63 years after independence
Press Trust of India, Updated: October 17, 2010 22:14 IST
Indore: Nearly 63 years after Independence, a village situated on a hillock near Indore, got its first ever electricity connection.
Koparwel, a tiny village with 20 households, broke into jubilation with the lighting of a bulb in one of its huts this Friday.
Ambaram is the first villager to get the electricity connection.
No sooner was his house brightened by a CFL bulb, villagers worshipped the instrument, distributed "prasad" and burst firecrackers. "It is a matter of joy that electricity has come to our village," Ambaram said.
Children are happy that they will have electricity to study at night and bid adieu to lanterns shortly while the youths are glad that they will not have to go to neighbouring village to charge their cell phone batteries, he said.
However, it was not an easy task to electrify Koparwel.
"It was a challenge to electrify Ambaram's place given that the village is situated on the hilltop," Madhya Pradesh Western Distribution Company Limited (MPWDCL) Chief Engineer Sanjay Mohase said.
In two to four days, other houses in the village too will get electricity connection, he said.
Read more at: click here

Modern Engineering Marvels

Joyous Swiss celebrate longest-tunnel breakthrough

Swiss officials hug each other after a giant drilling machine beneath the Swiss Alps completed the world's longest tunnel Friday
By The Associated Press and Deutsche Presse-Agentur
SEDRUN, Switzerland — Workers hugged, cheered and set off fireworks as a massive drilling machine dubbed "Sissi" broke through the last stretch of rock deep in the Swiss Alps. There was delight at the end of the tunnel — the world's longest — when it was completed Friday.

The $10 billion, 35.4-mile tube will connect Europe's high-speed-rail network and is part of a larger effort to cut in half the number of trucks — now 1.2 million — that thunder through the Alps each year.

The pride felt throughout Switzerland over digging the Gotthard Base Tunnel reflected the one cause that unites the country's wealthy city dwellers with those living in traditional villages: Protecting the beauty of the mountains.

"Together, we risked a lot," said Swiss Transport Minister Moritz Leuenberger. "Together, we achieved a lot."

TV stations across Europe showed the event live. The embraces and cheers by the hard-hatted workers brought to mind the successful rescue of 33 miners this week in Chile.
Read More: Joyous Swiss celebrate longest-tunnel breakthrough

Soaring Hoover Dam bypass bridge finally complete

A soaring bridge that will let drivers bypass Hoover Dam - and steer clear of its security checkpoints and gawking tourists - is set to open after nearly eight years and $240 million worth of work. Julie Jacobson AP Photo

Dawna Robertson, of San Diego, Calif., takes a photo of Hoover Dam and the newly completed by-pass bridge from a Black Canyon River Adventures commercial raft on the Colorado River Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, near Boulder City, Nev. The bridge will be dedicated on Thursday and open to the public Saturday.

By OSKAR GARCIA; Associated Press Writer
Published: 10/14/1012:20 pm
BOULDER CITY, Nevada. A soaring bridge that will let drivers bypass Hoover Dam - and steer clear of its security checkpoints and gawking tourists - is set to open after nearly eight years and $240 million worth of work.

The 1,900-foot engineering wonder perched 890 feet above the Colorado River is expected to drastically cut travel time along the main route between Las Vegas and Phoenix, as motorists will no longer have to make their way across the dam's winding two-lane road at a snail's pace.

"I know that the Hoover Dam is one of the wonders of the world," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at a dedication ceremony Thursday. "I don't know who gives that designation, but I hope the bridge will become another wonder of the world."
Read more: Soaring Hoover Dam bypass bridge finally complete

A witness who walked tall inspite of the Bureaucrats

By T J S George, 04/10/2010
A witness who walked tall
Out of the blue, as it were, a new and wholly unexpected voice broke above the newspaper din in India in 1959. In a politics-obsessed world, this voice began talking about development projects – Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley, Hirakund, Nagarjunsagar – and then about “brand names of distinction” like HAL, HMT, BHEL, ONGC etc. These were all new terms at that time and the overall picture that came through was that of a massive change under way in the thinking as well as structural composition of India. It was as good as a scoop... That was B. G. Verghese's entry into public attention...

His stint as adviser to Indira Gandhi allows him to speak frankly about the reality of high-level activities - how drafts for after-dinner speeches are finalised only after the dinner has started, how the Government does not work out a world view and relies instead on tired slogans, "the haphazard manner in which government functioned and the Prime Minister's inexperience in so many matters".

Verghese' assessment of Indira Gandhi is a highlight of the book. He pays tribute to her qualities of leadership, the dignity of her deportment, her pride in India. But he is unsparing in his condemnation of the Emergency, the "savage and thoroughly illegal demolition orgy" of Sanjay Gandhi and of Indira's own "split personality".

B.G.Verghese is a serious person, concerned with serious, "un-sexy" topics like water resources. That makes his humour more appealing. The quality of his mind is reflected in the lightness with which he describes his introduction to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

"There was no airconditioner in the room as the previous incumbent was a mere deputy secretary who 'as per rules' was not entitled to feel overly hot. The official theory was that the blood grew thinner with ascending seniority, entitling the officer to one, two or more airconditioners. The same theory worked for arm rests, back rests and foot rests..... Nor did I allow my chaprassi to hover around the car park in the morning to relieve me of my briefcase the moment I arrived. Official research had established that senior officers carry so much responsibility that the weight of a briefcase could do incalculable damage to their spine".

His briefcase tightly held in his own hand, Verghese kept his spine straight and walked tall.
Read More: A witness who walked tall

CWG: Stop misusing the Army

THE INDIAN Army has once again been called in at the last second to replace the collapsed foot overbridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium constructed by the PWD. I leave it to the people of the country to form their own opinion on the commitment, pride, accountability and efficiency of the civil department and its masters in handing over to problem to the Army after being at it for well over a year.

Despite the Armed Forces being a 24 x 7, all weather and all problem response, why are soldiers being treated shabbily? Why is a soldier retired compulsorily at an early age without a suitable alternative career or being compensated for the overall loss of his lifetime earnings while every other government servant retires at an age of 60 or above? Doesn’t the government compensate government servants and employees of the Public Sector Undertakings by paying them a handsome compensation for a Voluntary Retirement Scheme? Even the lowly One Rank One Pension that can partially offset the loss of overall lifetime earnings is being denied.

Why? Doesn’t a soldier need as much finances to bring up his children and take care of his family as anyone else in the society? Talking of finances, the government has no problem providing Rs 70,000 crore for the botched up Commonwealth Games, Rs 80,000 crore for the loan waiver scheme for the farmers or to enhance the pay and allowances of the Parliamentarians.

The loss to the exchequer through illegal mining or scams which surface almost on a daily basis does not seem to be a cause of financial worry to the ruling class but when it comes to paying the soldier, they seem to have an inexplicable predicament.
Brigadier V Mahalingam ( Retired)
Mail Today Sep 2010 Page 40

Commonwealth Games: Salvaging National Honour

Exterior view of Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex
click here for more photos
CWG Schedules: Dates, Events and Staduims: Click me
Opening and Closing Ceremony- Buy your tickets- click me

A disastrous failure of the Games would not be just a failure of an incompetent India. We as a nation are not incompetent. It would be the failure of an emerging India and the damaging of its image as a democratic nation worthy of emulation due to the alleged incompetence of a small group of people who had the control of the Organising Committee. The world would not want India to be seen as a bungler in the face of an authoritarian China which made a spectacular success of the Olympics of August 2008.

Thanks to the dithering by the Prime Minister, we seem to be left with no other option but to sink or swim with Mr. Kalmadi and his Organising Committee. Swim we must and swim we can, if the Prime Minister gives up his bureaucratic ways of dealing with a crisis, steps on to the deck and takes control of the damaged ship. Only he can save the ship of our national honour at this late hour. No one else can. He has to take control now without further delay.

India is not bereft of managerial wizards in the Government and the private sector. The Prime Minister should set up a committee of consequence managers chaired by him to mount an exercise for the salvage of the national honour. Specific responsibilities should be allotted to the members of the committee relating to the venues of the games, the maintenance of the Games Village, the welfare of the participants, the physical security and public relations. The Organising Committee should be told to carry out its instructions. Any attempt by the Organising Committee to undermine or sabotage its functioning should be ruthlessly put down. The Committee should be given all the powers and resources it needs. The young and enthusiastic officers of the police and the Armed Forces, who passed out last year, should be placed at the disposal of the Committee to have its instructions carried out. The Prime Minister should hold meetings of the Committee every evening to review its work and give appropriate follow-up directions. The Prime Minister should make himself available for instant meetings with the members of the Committee.

It is too late for us to hope for a spectacular CWG, which could compare with the spectacular Beijing Olympics. We could even now make it a decent CWG and salvage our national honour if the Prime Minister acts and acts decisively and makes it clear that hereafter he will be in charge till the Games are over.

The salvaging of our national honour depends on one man, the Prime Minister. Will he step onto the deck?
B. Raman is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai and Associate, Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com
Commonwealth Games: Salvaging National Honour

CWG: National Shame Personified

Click image for enlarged print: courtesy Hindustan Times
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Can the Army Salvage the Commonwealth Games?

RSN Singh is a former military intelligence officer who later served in the Research and Analysis Wing, or R&AW. The author of two books: Asian Strategic and Military Perspective and Military Factor in Pakistan, he is also Associate Editor, Indian Defence Review.

The run-up to the Commonwealth Games, which for us is an indicator of the health of the Indian nation, does not augur well. The games are a critical reflection of our collective psyche, national character, sense of patriotism, individual and collective integrity, self-confidence and pride, governance, level of corruption, and most importantly, leadership. Each of these aspects of national health seems to have acquired cancerous proportions, notwithstanding the repeated and revised claims of an upward trajectory in the growth rate of the country’s economy.

For the past decade or so, the world has been seeing India as an economic and military power in the making. We seem determined to negate this growing impression by sabotaging the Commonwealth Games, an international event that we so enthusiastically bid for.

Citizens like me were enthused that the games would provide an opportunity to showcase ‘A Rising India’. Instead, it seems to highlight some ugly truths. Nations use such events to galvanize people and lift the sense of national pride. But such is the sense of despair amongst the Indian people, the organizers and the government that one wonders how the country and the countrymen will fare in the event of a full-scale war.

One segment of the political spectrum will be too happy if the games end up in a fiasco. Given the fractious and opportunistic nature of Indian politics, the opposition parties can be absolved of their cynicism with regard to the games, but the deplorable part is the bitter criticism from some responsible members of the ruling party. One of them publicly maintains that the games were a waste of money that could have been utilized for other purposes. The member is educated and erudite enough to understand the difference between “price of things” and “value of things” in the international arena.

Such statements by responsible people in the government have sown doubts about the very desirability of conducting the games. Given the single reference point for leadership in the ruling party, it is difficult to believe that the politician concerned could be taking regular potshots at the games and their organizers without the tacit approval of the powers that be.

What we thus see is the ugly manifestation of this politics of “keeping the house divided”. The nationalistic component of our polity has been missing in the preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Our power-hungry political leaders cannot be national leaders who focus on our prestige and purpose. The event also serves as a barometer of corruption in the country.

The culture of ‘cuts’ is facilitating the growth of carnivorous elements in politics, officialdom and citizenry, all raring to consume India. They are killing the very spirit of India. Take the fact that there is no talk of preparation of our sports persons and teams for the event. We don’t even seem to be bothered about their performance.

Contrast this with China’s accent on its performance in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. A nation does not become great merely by riding on an IT wave, or on nature’s bounties; it rises by the virtue of the character of its people. More than Mr Kalmadi and his team, the government of the day must be blamed for this mess. In fact, it is a microcosm view of governance and accountability in the country. If the games end in a fiasco, the world will blame India and not Mr Kalmadi for the criminal neglect of collective responsibility and monitoring mechanisms.

Beijing Olympics was China’s achievement, and London Olympics for which the British are fully prepared two years in advance is going to be Britain’s achievement. The Commonwealth Games could still be India’s achievement. If the government thinks that the time period is short and the task formidable, it should immediately put the armed forces in-charge.

Recently, the Indian Army had very smoothly and successfully organized the World Military Games. Besides, I have met scores of concerned fellow countrymen, who are willing to come forward and pitch in voluntarily by the toil and even meagre resources that they have, for the sake of India’s prestige and honour. Their only imperative is selfless leadership, which only the Indian Army can provide.
Can the Army Salvage the Commonwealth Games?

No threat to Games Village as floods raise water level

Taj Mahal as Shah Jahan saw it
A river in spate, the angry and overflowing Yamuna is now touching the foundation of the Taj Mahal, providing thousands of visitors to the 'Symbol of Love' a rare spectacle — "just the way the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had wanted it to look." Heritage lover Sudhir Gupta said: "If the emperor had been alive and looking at the Taj from his confines in the fort he would have been mighty pleased, for that is how he had wanted it to look."
Flood situation worsens in Bareilly & Moradabad Monday 20 September, 2010.
More than 200 villages have been inundated in Bareilly and Moradabad divisions due to floods even as seven trains have been cancelled in the region.

Vehicular movement on National Highway 24, connecting Delhi with Lucknow, which was closed on Saturday night after its section near Moradabad division was flooded, would remain suspended till 22nd September.

More than 200 villages in Bareilly and Moradabad have been hit by floods due to incessant rain and release of water in Ramganga and Kosi rivers from Kalagarh, Naraura, Behgul, Nand Sagar and Dhaura dams.

According to Central Water Commission report, Ramganga was swelling by 2 cm by every hour. The danger mark is at 204.83 metres. The water level had touched 206.78 metres last week. There is no threat to Games Village even if the water level rises
Flood situation worsens in Bareilly & Moradabad

Over 500 NDRF Personnel Deployed for Flood Relief in Uttarakhand, Up & Bihar
2o Sep 2010, 17:27 IST
The Government of India has sent six teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief work in Uttarakhand. Three teams comprising of 90 NDRF personnel along with 20 boats and other flood and rescue equipment have been deployed at Haridwar. Other three teams comprising of 101 personnel along with 25 boats and other flood and rescue equipment have been deployed at Rishikesh.

As on date, Rs 87.49 crore is available with the State Government in their Calamity Relief Fund/State Disaster Response Fund account.

In Bihar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisting of 152 personnel along with 31 boats /equipments have been deployed in Gopalganj since 16-9-10 for rescue and relief work. Additionally, two teams consisting of 66 NDRF personnel along with 12 OBM boats have been deployed in Gopalganj on 19.9.2010.

As on date 1491.28 crore is available with the Bihar Government in their Calamity Relief Fund/State Disaster Response Fund account. However the final figures will be subject to reconciliation between the State Government and State Accountant General.

In Uttar Pradesh, a total of 79 NDRF personnel along with 11 boats have been deployed in Uttar Pradesh at Muradabad (39 personnel with 6 boats), Rampur (40 personnel with 5 boats). In addition 01 team comprising of 40 NDRF personnel with 5 boats and other flood and rescue equipment have been deployed in Rampur on 19.9.2010.

As on date, Rs 667.04 crore is available with the State Government in their Calamity Relief Fund /State Disaster Response Fund account.

Ministry of Home Affairs is constantly monitoring the situation in close coordination with the concerned State Governments and nodal Central Ministries.
Over 500 NDRF Personnel Deployed for Flood Relief in Uttarakhand, Up & Bihar

CWG: Indian Army asked to fight mosquitoes

Dengue fever is a febrile illness caused by an RNA flavivirus that is spread by the bites of mosquitoes. The symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, rash, severe pains in the muscles and joints, and pain behind the eyes. The severe muscle pains have led some to call the disease "break bone fever".
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi has sought the help of Indian Army personnel for specific tasks to ensure a successful conduct of the 2010 Games.

Suresh Kalmadi seeks Indian Army’s assistance for Common Wealth Games 2010

Commonwealth Games: Army asked to work for free by Rajat Pandit, TNN, Aug 21, 2010, 12.44am IST

New Delhi, Sept. 8: With dengue cases in the city crossing the 1,400 mark, the Indian Army will be drafted to fight mosquito menace near the Commonwealth Games Village, where athletes and delegates will stay during the Oct-3-14 mega event, an official said Wednesday.

A decision to deploy the army was taken at a meeting of health officials held by Delhi health minister Kiran Walia and Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna has accorded it his approval, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi's
Public Health Committee chairman V.K. Monga.

A letter will soon be sent to the army authorities, and army personnel willin a day or two start working with the help of MCD staffers, who apparently are finding it difficult to drain out water from the Village surroundings.

The services of the army's engineering department are being secured to help in this task, officials said.

Due to massive construction work in and around the Games Village, which has been built on the Yamuna's river-bed in east Delhi, and ar other venues for the mega sporting event, Delhi has witnessed a surge in dengue cases.

Monga told IANS that the Army will drain out water from water pools near the Games Village, spray anti-larval chemical in the area, and clean and level pools flooded with incessant rains and Yamuna water.

He said the Army's help has been sought as it is better equipped to deal with such situations and its pesonnel can go down in the water.

"They also have all the equipment required for the work," Monga added.

At least 24 Commonwealth countries have made inquiries about the status of dengue in the capital.

Mosquito breeding will be at its peak during the hot and humid October and the Yamuna banks are likely to be the main breeding ground for mosquitoes responsible for dengue and malaria, an official said.
Delhi asks Army to fight mosquitoes September 8th, 2010

Citizen comments
Submitted by Pasupathy on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:36am.
The Indian Army organized the International Military Games in Hyderabad with aplomb. Probably if the Army was tasked to coduct CWG four years ago they would have done it in a professional and economic way and the funds that has been spent/ going to be spent could have been utilised to equip the Army to meet their critical shortages. It is an irony that Indian Army has been called to fight mosquitoes in Delhi. What image we are projecting for the Country and the Army? May be some international players may withdraw from competing due to the mosquito menace.

Submitted by AKC on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 11:51pm.
Why should Indian Army get involved in this filth that our politicians created. This clearly shows that there was no proper planning done either by Common Wealth Games Organization Committee that is conducting the games and the Govts at the center and Delhi UT. Army should outrightly reject this request. There are other things that the Army can take care of. This (cleaning) needs to be done with the help of other departments as well as with the help of social organizations. Don't we have NCC cadets and other people from surronding muncipalities who can take care of this mess. As a last resort, para-military forces can be used but certainly NOT Army. Personally, I feel that these games will project India in bad-light and will bring bad name. It is too late to call it off now, anyway. Possible Corrective measures need to be taken at the earliest and save some pride.

Submitted by blaze on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 8:17pm.
ha ha ha mosquitos are more harmful than maoists. Politicians are money eaters and should be given the highest punishment for their crime.

Submitted by Ravi Shendarkar on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 7:58pm.
Either the Delhi government needs to be admitted to a mental hospital or the Army Authorities who will sanction troops to such unnoble cause.

Indira Gandhi International Airport: Integrated Gate 3 an engineering marvel

Terminal 3
The state-of-the-art integrated terminal, called T3, of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi is poised to be the world’s third-largest, after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Beijing in China, in terms of size. Once T3 starts operations in July 2010, IGIA will become the world’s sixth-largest in terms of capacity. T3 would increase the capacity of IGIA to 60 million passengers annually, from 23 million after it starts commercial operation in July 2010.

Designed by HOK working in consultation with Mott MacDonald, the new Terminal 3 will be a two-tier building, with the bottom floor being the arrivals area, and the top being a departures area. This terminal will have 168 check-in counters, 74 aerobridges, 30 parking bays, 72 immigration counters, 15 X-ray screening areas, for less waiting times, duty-free shops, and other features. Over 90% of passengers will use this terminal when completed. This new terminal has been completed in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are to be held in Delhi, and will be connected to Delhi by an eight-lane motorway (National Highway 8), and the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System. Terminal 3 will cater to 34 million passengers a year.

Specifications

1 million trees planted in and around T3

aluminium cladding covering 80,000 sq m

will feature 74 aerobridges, 30 remote parking bays for passenger movement to and from the aircraft and 78 boarding bridges. Six of the aerobridges will be compatible with the A380.

five level in-line baggage handling system and 160 check-in counters as well as 70 desks for immigration. Siemens Mobility has won the contract to supply the baggage handling system, which can handle more than 11,300 pieces of baggage per hour.

two levels with departures on the upper floor and arrivals on the lower. Passengers that have checked-in will pass over a bridge to the airside and will be able to look down to the arrivals floor from the bridge

have extensive shopping areas (Alpha has the duty free contract), with many restaurants and bars and executive lounges to relax in. There will also be a business centre with state-of-the-art IT and communications equipment for the business traveller

covered parking for 4000 motor vehicles

cost Rs 9,000 cores and project completion in 37 months

The new T3 will become operational from July 3, 2010 after which all international airlines and India's full cost carriers Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines will start their operations from the terminal in a phased manner. Members of the Oneworld alliance will also operate from this terminal as a result of Kingfisher Airline's entry into the alliance.

Terminal 3 will form the first phase of the airport expansion in which a 'U' horseshoe shaped building will be developed in a modular manner. In 2010, all international and full service domestic carriers will operate from Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 will be dedicated to low cost operations. In subsequent stages, the low cost carriers will also move to the new terminal complex.
Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi, India

Border Roadways Organisation turns 50 countering U- turns

BRO turns 50: Old traditions, new problems
Ajai Shukla / New Delhi May 07, 2010, 0:04 IST Business Standard
Exactly 50 years ago, with war clouds gathering on the Sino-Indian border, Jawaharlal Nehru created the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), an inter-ministerial task force that has become an Indian exemplar of grit and fortitude. Thanks to over 48,000 kilometres of BRO roads, soldiers now drive to far-flung border picquets that earlier involved days of marching. But, even on the BRO’s Golden Jubilee, an ambitious expansion of India’s border road network remains stymied by archaic state laws and a crippling lack of urgency.

The challenge before the BRO — triggered by China’s dramatic expansion of road and rail links in Tibet — is the Strategic Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) planned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Under this, the BRO will build double-lane roads from each state capital in the northeast to each of that state’s district headquarters. That involves building 38 roads, approximately 2,812 km long, within the next five years. In addition, the government has recently handed the BRO responsibility for the Arunachal Package, which involves building another 812 km of roads in the state that China calls “Southern Tibet”.

Holding back the BRO are two major obstacles. First, the tribal structure of Arunachal Pradesh makes it difficult for the state government to acquire land for these roads. While the state government constitutionally owns non-private land, Itanagar goes by tribal tradition in which all land belongs to the local tribe. The acquisition of any land in Arunachal Pradesh involves extended negotiations with multiple tribal leaders who are increasingly aware of the value of their concurrence.

Admitting that land acquisition is a problem, the Director General of the BRO, Lt Gen M C Badhani, says, “Procedural delays (in land acquisition) have to be accepted. The locals bring forward their own concerns and aspirations and we try to take those on board. It is important to have local support.”

The other obstacle before the BRO is the requirement to provide each labourer with an Inner Line Permit (ILP) before entering Arunachal Pradesh, something that the state government implements strongly. Thousands of casual labourers from states across the country, especially Jharkhand and Bihar, are contracted for BRO projects in Arunachal; their employment is often held up while ILPs are issued.

“We will continue to enforce ILPs strictly in Arunachal,” promises a top bureaucrat in the Arunachal Pradesh state government. “Arunachal’s identity will be swamped by outsiders if we don’t keep a tight control on who enters the state. All kinds of trouble-makers can come into Arunachal pretending to be labourers; we will vet every single labourer and make the contractor responsible.”
Read more
BRO turns 50: Old traditions, new problems
Related reading
Now on, BRO to Focus on Building Strategic Assets: Antony

Nation bereft of Humane Values

We are proud Indians but I still feel there is something we must do to improve our nation. I do not have the answer to this but I feel basically the value of a human being is missing.
Few lines for pondering:
WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY

Where Pizza reaches home faster than the Ambulance and Police.

Where we get Car Loans @ 8% but Education loan is @ 12%.

Where Rice is Rs 40/KG but Sim Card is free.

Where a millionaire can buy cricket team, instead donate money in any charity. I personally hate this IPL nonsense- we as Indians should boycott this game in totality in its revised form.

Where everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to follow the path for betterment of the nation.

Where people standing at tea stall reading an article about child labor from a paper and says “yaar bacho se kaam karne walo ko to fansi pe chada dena chahiye”
and then they shout - “oye Chotu 2 chai laana”
FIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI
JAI HIND
Hemant Kamboj
(Son of Brig CS Kamboj)

Footpaths vanishing in Indian cities

Footpaths, an Utopian dream in India
My ordeal to reach office and return home five days a week has become a curse as I happen to live in a big city like Hyderabad without owning a vehicle.

While the developed nations have separate lanes for pedestrians and bicycle peddlers, in most Indian cities governments invest money and effort in cutting trees and removing pavements to widen roads. This has resulted in two types of roads. First, there are roads where pedestrians occupy almost the entire breadth and cars and bikes constantly honk to find their way out. Secondly, there are roads that are completely occupied by vehicles leaving little or no space for pedestrians. While the first kind is a pain for the vehicle drivers or owners, the second one is the pedestrian’s agony, the one that I face everyday.

In this second kind of roads, the pedestrian is treated like an illegal intruder who does not have any right to be on the street. The vehicles which always seem to be in haste keep honking behind him/her, even if he/she is on the left limit of the road with a part of the body brushing against the leftmost wall bordering the road. They, it seems, would not mind crushing her beneath their wheels. A solution is just a separate lane for the pedestrian, a footpath.

Yes, there are footpaths, footbridges and zebra crossings at quite a few places. It’s just that, the footpaths are less for man and more for manholes. They become the street dwellers’ accommodation, the street vendors’ outlet, the public garbage dumping ground and a lot more except a pedestrian’s freeway. The height and the number of steps in a footbridge are such that an arthritis patient or a senior citizen would prefer risking his life crossing the road to climbing up the footbridge. The ever fading stripes of the zebra crossings reveal their plight of being under the wheels of massive vehicles all throughout rather than the shivering feet of a terrified pedestrian.

As population increases, as the standard of living of the middle class Indian rises, as vehicles become more and more affordable, the traffic problem is only destined to aggravate. How far can the government accommodate the ever-increasing number of vehicles by clearing forests, widening roads and building flyovers? And where shall we finally end up by this approach of green murder and a devastated ecological balance? Isn’t it time to realise that a solution lies somewhere else? Encouraging car pooling, discouraging the unnecessary use of vehicles, developing better public means of transport, and building footpaths free of manholes, garbage, roadside dwellers and street vendors are not so difficult to implement given their huge positive impact.

A relatively simple step like building a separate pedestrian lane shaded by trees would serve more than one purpose. First, it would save the lives and ordeal of pedestrians. Second, it would provide relief to the vehicles which are constantly irritated by presence of the pedestrian on the roads. This would also reduce noise pollution marginally as drivers would stop honking. Third, it would contribute towards cooling and refreshing the atmosphere, playing its part in global cooling and climate restoration. Fourth, it would encourage more people to walk, especially in a tropical country like India where without tree shade walking causes more harm than benefit. This would not just reduce fuel consumption and air pollution, but would also assist in the creation of a healthy India.
Aparajita Banerjee
Footpaths, an Utopian dream in India

Stretches of Chennai Roads- sans footpath
Construction materials and encroachment of the roads- sans foot-path in Chennai

Comments
Bangalore and Chennai cities are twice as worse than Hyderabad. The footpaths are filled with building materials, used as toilets, occupied by vendors, used for vehicle parking, proliferation of footpath idols (annual increase is over 100% in suburban localities), paths dug up by telecoms, electricity and other utilities and footpaths are generally built over covered storm drainage which also carries sewer from residential colonies, overflowing and stinking due to drain blockages. It implies that footpaths only exist for namesake but no pedestrians can ever use the footpath so citizens need to walk on roads at their own peril. Greater question: Is there any citizen safety in India?

China’s New Bullet Train Breaks Speed Record; Makes Amtrak Cry

China’s Harmony train can now boast of being the fastest long distance passenger train on the planet. The Harmony express raced 1,100 km in less than three hours on Saturday, travelling from Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province, to the central city of Wuhan. The journey previously took at least 11 hours [Financial Times]. That’s almost like traveling from New York City to Indianapolis by train in three hours. Even if you encountered a two and a half hour delay, which happened to one unlucky load of Harmony riders this week, you’d still make great time.

See the train in action in the video below:


The train will run 56 times per day and the cheapest fare is 490 yuan (roughly $72), however many slower trains along the same route will be axed to help cover costs.
Harmony reached a top speed of 217 miles per hour (350 km per hour) on its debut, bumping off Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train and France’s TGV, both of which can travel at 186 miles per hour (300 km per hour). Embarrassingly for the United States, Amtrak’s Acela service takes three and a half hours to travel the 186 miles (300 km) between New York and Boston.
For a look at Chinese high speed rail, both present and future, and the state of U.S. high speed rail spending, click over to Next Big Future.
China’s New Bullet Train Breaks Speed Record; Makes Amtrak Cry

Fastest Indian Train

Monsoon Rains exposes underbelly of Chennai's poor quality infrastructure

— Photo: A. Muralitharan Difficult trek: Not many people prefer using the subway in the face of water stagnation and safety issues.

CHENNAI: Pedestrians using the subway connecting Trisoolam railway station and the Chennai airport are facing problems because of lack of security and stagnating water. One can see a sheet of water on the ground soon after entering the subway from the station side. A ‘spring’ of water on the sides of the steps overflows on to the ground. Many passengers from the airport carrying heavy luggage, particularly those fitted with wheels, are put to lot of inconvenience.

People working in the airport lament that even after a short spell of rain, water stagnates in the subway. To avoid the water, some people take the risk of crossing the busy national highway to reach the airport or vice-versa with their luggage.

“Engineering marvel”
The subway was constructed at a cost of Rs.5 crore and inaugurated in April last year. National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) officials had then termed the facility an engineering marvel, as it was constructed without any road cuts.

When contacted, NHAI officials said they had received complaints about water stagnation. Water from the Trisoolam station’s stormwater drains was seeping into the subway. The NHAI was pumping out the water. A meeting with the railway officials would be organised soon to sort out the issue. The officials said the maintenance of the subway had been handed over to a private contractor, who was baling out water during and after rain regularly.

Women harassed
Another major issue haunting the users was the lack of security and safety, particularly during late evening hours. This issue was raised at a recent meeting, in which the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) complained to the Airport Director that women working in airline counters and ground handling agencies at the airport had to encounter anti-social elements. They were being harassed by a group of autorickshaw drivers, who parked their vehicles near the subway. However, the victims had not filed any formal complaints with law-enforcing agencies. The AOC had requested the police to provide security at the subway during late evening hours, they added.
Stagnating water hits subway users

Chennai's Collapsing Infrastructure

Open storm drain converted to open raw sewage drain
Most of the subways and Road under Rail bridges are filled with water and not usable during monsoons. The quality of works is sub- standard and road surfaces do not last even 9 months. Add to this open storm drains turned into open sewage drains directly connected to sewer lines from houses and footpaths taken over by vendors and used as parking areas. There is no citizen safety in the streets of Chennai City for women as well as men.
Chennai Airport has become hotbed for con men, touts, beggars, scoundrels, and goons operating in the guise of travel agents or drivers freely operating in the International Airport car parking area. It seems that the local Police are in league with the hundreds of scoundrels operating 24x7 in the International Airport. The recent custom duty scam is also related to unauthorised touts operating in and around the Airport in connivance with the Authorities.

ISRO Chief spills the beans about Higher Education in India

Bangalore: ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair, who is to retire by this month-end after an illustrious career at the space agency, feels that the country’s higher education system is not up to the mark, churning out graduates only for routine jobs.

Mr. Nair, also Secretary in the Department of Space, called for improving quality to produce high-class technologists and scientists.

‘Not up to the mark’
“The level of education and knowledge being imparted by many colleges... they are not up to the mark. Instead of concentrating on quantity, these institutions should concentrate on quality,” Mr. Nair told PTI in an interview.

"I am not happy with the education system in the country. The bulk of applicants (who applied for scientific and engineering jobs at ISRO this year)... they are not able to get even 50 per cent marks in our entrance tests."

Nair said if the quality level is not up to the mark, then one would only get people for clerical or routine jobs. If real technologists for manufacturing and scientific research were to be produced, the quality had to be far better.

Appointed as ISRO chairman, Nair's tenure saw realisation of 27 space missions, of which 25 were successful, with India's maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 being the pinnacle of glory for the country's space agency. Nair got two extensions in 2005 and 2007.- PTI
ISRO chief to retire by month-end

Fake degrees
Compounding the problems of poor quality of Higher education is the Fake Degrees, where detection and conviction is almost negligible. The Courts and Judiciary which have pending and backlog cases for the next 450 years is likely to enhance rapidly Fake Degrees in India and its export to other nations. Are we producing Scientists, Technocrats, Engineers for research or Bureaucrats and clerks for routine white collar jobs?