Traffic jams in Kolkata works out to a loss of Rs 2.7-crore every year

Traffic jams are a common sight in all metro cities but, the extent and nature of jams in Kolkata works out to a loss of Rs 2.7-crore every year. This has been calculated based on a research study carried out by Calcutta University's Centre for Urban Economic Studies (CUES). AS per its findings, commuters cumulatively lose over Rs 74,000 in just two hours of traffic jams in the city - and this adds up to nearly Rs 2.7 crore a year.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 2 February 2016.

The study was conducted on only 10 of the roads in the metro but the results throw up shucking nature of not only the real economic cost but also the associated environmental and health cost. These are the consequences of the city's bumper to bumper crawl. In fact, at peak office hours, the average speed on some roads is hardly 9kmph on MG Road and an embarrassing 18kmph on the Kolkata's longest thoroughfare, AJC Bose Road.
On Vivekananda Road, where average speed is 40kmph, the loss is the least - Rs 338.58 But commuters who travel regularly on Raja SC Mullick Road (16kmph) lose Rs 878.05 every day. Moreover those who get caught in traffic jams lose productive time, vehicles burn more fuel and emit double the pollution in slow traffic. All these elements add up as an enormous economic, social and environmental cost.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Kolkata loses crores in traffic jams http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkata-loses-crores-in-traffic-jams/articleshow/50816895.cms

Pooling cars help techies of Bengalaru to keep 1500 cars off the roads daily

Nearly 3000 employees from various IT companies in southeast Bengaluru have opted for carpooling. The scheme was launched on October 21 after Additional commissioner of police (traffic) had met representatives from 40 IT companies and requested them to go in for carpooling.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 5 November 2015.

As a result of this initiative, it has been possible to keep at least 1,500 cars off the roads. Traffic police are planning to reduce 50,000 vehicles in six months. This could be possible based on the response.
For a start, police are mainly focusing on south Bengaluru where most of the IT-BT employees stay, and also the southeast parts where their workplaces are located.
It is a collective effort and more and more people would be brought into its fold.
Among its advantages are elimination of headaches of driving and negotiating endless traffic jams. The owner of his vehicle takes it out once in a week when it is his turn.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Delhi is now in the grip of waterlogging as there is no letup in the rains

The monsoons have heaped miseries on Delhi as the city continued to reel under massive traffic jams due to waterlogging due to heavy rains that lashed the city for second consecutive day on Saturday. Many arterial roads are flooded and commuters were stranded for hours while.
The lack of preparedness of the civic bodies was evident since it has not yet been able to deal with the perennial problem. The civic authorities have got portable pumps installed in many localities to pump out the excess water.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 12 July 2015.

The MET department has issued a warning that the heavy downpour could continue till Tuesday.
The problem of waterlogging in metropolitan cities in India are not new. It happens every year in Mumbai and Kolkata and, people living there have got used to this situation. The blame is usually put on the tides – Mumbai blames it on the tides in the Arabian Sea and in Kolkata, it is the Ganges that is to blame.
Interestingly, one chief Minister of Maharashtra had visions of turning Mumbai into Shanghai while the present chief Minister of West Bengal wants to turn Kolkata into London.
Long live such visionaries. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Ripe mangoes and mango cakes or amsatta

Age-old proverbs in new capsules (2)

In continuation to my previous blog, here is another set of proverbs and it is for my readers to judge how relevant these age-old proverbs are today. So here goes …
Better late than never – considering the poor condition of roads and breakdown of the transportation systems in cities, late coming has become the rule rather than the exception. If it is not the bus then it is the late running of local trains or the traffic jams or the sudden passing through of some political dignitary. Many organizations allow late coming within limits.
Barking dogs seldom bite – in the civilized world, this is what we have noticed about those who ae into politics. It is customary for them to shout off their mouths to impress the audience. They know that they are putting on a show, especially during elections. We also know that it’s all a drama - they make hollow promises and do not mean what they say. We grin and bear it because the show must go on.
Birds of a feather flock together – yes, initially they do – but only till such time that they find their firm footings by which time it all becomes a fight for the survival of the fittest with no holds barred. The cream of the youth flock to coaching classes to secure one of the first hundred slots and the annual JEEs for admission to prestigious Institutions are the best example.
Charity begins at home – how so very right. First you must keep your wife happy, she has to cook your meals and keep your bed warm. Then keep your kids happy otherwise they will not allow you to enjoy your news spots. Then keep the bartan majnewalee happy otherwise she may suddenly vanish – leaving your wife mad as a hatter.
Cowards die many times before their death, the valiant dies only but once – life today is indeed tough. We must have faced some situation or another when we have wished that we were dead and wanted to see how the world goes on without you. And, for some of us, this takes place a number of times in our life.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – this is what we must follow meticulously. When invited to a party, do not bring any gift. Instead bring a bouquet of flowers and an Archie’s card. Gifts have gone out of fashion because, usually, everyone brings the same or similar items – cheap products wrapped in attractive wrappings containing very little of use.
Do not count your chickens until they are hatched – this is especially true for those who love to purchase lottery tickets or participate in online lotteries that are reportedly doing roaring business. Do not begin building castles in the air because they will most certainly crash all around you like a pack of cards. Moreover, once the word leaks out that you have won a lottery, your life could become miserable. Becoming a millionaire is not a simple affair – remember the movie ‘Malamal Weekly’?