Ah, so once again we cut the ribbon, light the lamps, and smile for the cameras as our Prime Minister inaugurates ₹11,000 crore worth of highway projects to decongest Delhi! Bravo! The champagne corks must be popping in cement companies and contractors’ offices even as I write this. But pardon me, dear reader, while I ask a simple question: Do we really need broader roads—or just broader minds with narrower egos when we sit behind the wheel?
Because what I’ve seen abroad is this: a simple two-lane highway in Europe or the US works better than our six-lane expressway. Why? Because there, people drive with discipline. Here, we drive with divine faith: faith that the other fellow will swerve before we crash, that God will save our scooter as it zigzags between trucks, and that a red light is only a polite suggestion.
So, my dear Mr. Gadkari and Prime Minister, may I suggest an idea cheaper than all your grand projects? Forget pouring concrete. Pour discipline. Invest in CCTVs at every junction, every highway, every sneaky shortcut. Not those dummy ones with cobwebs, but working ones. Enforce fines not just in newspapers but in real wallets. For nothing teaches better than the gentle tug of rupees leaving one’s pocket.
Today, we have laws. We have fines. We even have road safety weeks. But what we lack is the will to collect those fines.
After all, why build a system that brings no kickbacks, no ribbon-cuttings, no grand inauguration ceremonies with garlands and speeches? A disciplined road, alas, earns no headlines.
But think, dear ministers, of the ripple effect. A disciplined road begets a disciplined driver. A disciplined driver begets a disciplined citizen. And a disciplined citizen—now that’s someone who might even start questioning why we are spending ₹11,000 crores on roads instead of schools, hospitals, and clean air. Dangerous, isn’t it?
Instead, we jail people for speaking against the government. Ah well, may I propose something more productive? Jail the serial traffic offenders! Lock up the man who thinks the divider is a good place to practice stunt biking. Put behind bars the SUV driver who treats a zebra crossing as his private parking space. Do that, and you’ll see change faster than you can say “expressway.”
And Mr. Prime Minister, may I respectfully suggest—get off your cavalcade once in a while. Walk across a foreign pedestrian crossing, where cars halt as soon as your toe nears the road. Then return here, try the same, and see if you don’t end up sprinting for your life.
That, sir, is the difference between building more roads and building more discipline.
So please, don’t waste our money on asphalt and concrete. Spend it on order, on enforcement, on the humble traffic constable with a working body camera.
A narrow road with discipline is better than a broad road with chaos.
Or else, dear citizens, we’ll soon discover we don’t need broader highways—just broader shoulders to carry the crushing burden of foolish spending…!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Who will fill the potholes completely and blow the trumpet disciplining first the cops with bulging out bellies?
One small known district must soon make noise
Makes sense, thank you Darel.
YOU ARE SO RIGHT…. BEEN ON ROADS ABROAD N OBSERVED THE DISCIPLINE
WE SURE NEED BROADER DISCIPLINED MINDS….NOT ROADS.
Thank you Sheela.
The money is not wasted. Only Waisted. Hence you see the ever growing waistlines of the polytikos. Gadkari having a prominent one probably due to extra income from that blasted Ethanol blending.
Waisted! That’s an apt phrase-thank you Reggie
Rules are primarily broken by the so called privileged ones.
As such the ones like CCTV camera are just another drain on funds…?
Rules are primarily broken by the so called privileged ones.
As such the ones like CCTV camera are just another drain on funds…?
This is NOT a duplicate post
Very true.
NIRBAYA CCTV PROJECT BID WAS WON BY AN SI WHOBIS WITH TRAFFICK POLICE DEPARTMENT CHENNAI TAMIL NADU
JOINT BID WITH SPICE INDIA KERALA?
WORST JOKE OF TODAY READ IM THIS NEWS TGREAD.POLITICAL IMMUNITY IS ANOTHER NAME OF THE GAME WHERE.DEATH BY ACCIDENT IS THE CLAIM BY THE FINAL AUTHORITY OF ROADS & TRAFICK DEPARTMENT IN ALL POLICE STATIONS.EG.,. T 14 EARLIER CALLED S 10.
NAGARAJAN PRESIDENT OF KANCHEEPURAM TNCC WAS TAKEN WHILE STILL ALIVE TO A FAR OFF NURSING HOME WHEN ONE WAS JUST ACROSS THE SPOT.NIRBAYA PROJECT CCTV WAS NOT WORKING.IN REALITY A DUMMY ONE DR CHITRALEKA GOT THE CSR MOVED TO SUSPECTED MURDER.CASE DROPPED WAS THE CALL SHE GOT FROM RTO OFFICE AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS..
MANNIKANDAN A USED CAR BUYING & SELLING AGENT HIS BIKE CRASHED INTO A BROKEN DOWN CEMENT TRUCK ON A DARK AND LONELY HIGHWAY.CCTV DUMMY ONE FOUND AGAIN.KRISHNA HIS FATHER FORCED TO ACCEPT THE CSR DRUNK DRIVING HEAD LONG CRASH.STATES THE REPORT.MY SCORPIO TNZ 11 0381 CSR GIVEN.ONE MONTHLY LATER CASE DROPPED.CAR TAKEN FROM PALLIKARANAI MY HOUSE GARAGE.RC GIVEM AT TAMBARAM GO TO PS & RTO AT TAMBARAM.ADMNS ON DUTY AS RTO DIRECTOR RUSHED OFF TO SN EMERGENCY MEETING.I WAS NOT INFORMED.WAITED FOR AN HOUR ASKED TO GIVECA STATEMENT & LEAVE.CULPRIT TURNS APP.ADMN TELL LIES CAR WAS BROUGHT TO RTO DEPARTMENT & CHECKED.WHEN IT CANNOT BE MOVED EXCEOT BY A TOW VEHICLE.WHO WILL BE THE ONE TO BELL TGESE CATS? Special Crime Reporter.Dr Barbara Thyab Ali
BINGO!!
You gotta catch them by the neck where the RTO should completely be revamped as it’s run by touts more than the officers! Ever been to any of these so called RTO!!??
Like in some disciplined countries we should lay down one rule: implementation of procuring a license should be made the TOUGHEST exam to pass!!!
Going for a driving tests abroad gives the citizen jitters due to stringent laws and passing it after several attempts one throws a party!!!
Just imagine…
Thanks Subs. You’re right.
‘ Broader minds with narrower egos,’ will work wonders in all areas and spheres. Whether it’s to do with building societies, travel, or even religious fanaticism!
Yes indeed Kay.
RTO be hanged. RIGHT TO OFFENCE!
WITHOUT INSPECTING OR EVEN CHECKING AADHA CARD DETAILS.LOCAL ADDRESS :AGENTS CHANGED MY RC BOOK TO A K PANDIAN A LOCAL FROM VIRUDHUNAGAR PRODUCED A THIRVOTUR RENTAL AGREEMENT WITHOUT ME GOING ALONG FOR ANY TRANSACTION.HE GOT RS 2.5 LAKHS FROM A CAR FINANCE COMPANY, ENDORSEMENT DONE TOO.
Now I INSISTED ON A BLOCK OF ANY DEAL OR CHANGE OF RC TILL THE LOAN IS COMPLETED.THE RC HAS TO BE MADE IN THE NAME OF RAJIV GANDHI SOCIAL SERVICE TRUST IN 2026.
Dr.BARBARA THYAB Ali.8056191159
True, we as a society need to rise up. It’s not about the infrastructure, its something between the ears.
Well expressed William. Thank you