Elevated Rail Corridor.... the Wrong Choice

Rather than opting for an elevated rail corridor, I would appreciate if the Authorities concerned think of having an underground line after cross over of Marine lines station for the Churchgate bound Train, loops as shown by the dotted lines in image and ascend to finally arrive at Platform 2 on the Slow line as bound for Andheri / Borivili.

Trains follow trains closely in a loop thus emptying platforms of passengers. If the Time between two trains can be brought to 2 minutes and with increase in rakes to a minute it would make all the difference. 

Secondly Slow Trains from Churchgate must be upto Andheri & Borivili only. 

Virar will be Fast unto Andheri.

Slow Trains for Virar must originate at Andheri and Borivili. 

Slow Trains for Borivili must also originate at Bandra & Dadar.

This will ensure all passengers travel in comfort, and the funds to be so allotted, used to better citizens lives.

Taming Inflation

The better way is to have a website that displays stocks of every grain at every depot in the country. The Authorities need only to conduct random checks to ensure what is mentioned is the factual status. Then an informed decision can be undertaken on the movement of goods, to ensure no one takes advantage and profits in difficult times by exploiting the situation. 

Border Security

The Best way to resolve our external security threats, is to build housing complexes for the armed forces along the border in a band of 5 - 10 kms. This along all International border lines will ensure infiltration is more difficult. 

Errant Drivers under Eagle Eye of Police

I have written a lot on this subject  which I copy below 

Racing beyond the specified speed on given sections of the street should be monitored by cameras, and those defying this should be heavily penalised. Suggest a fine of Rs 1000/- for the first offence, and multiples of Rs 5000/- for every subsequent offence and a Jail Term.

Secondly it is the State's responsibility to ensure the Good Health of its citizens. Healthcare is more important than Medicare. A drive down any street or road in the state, will cause so many jerks to the spine, the possibility of having a slip disc is far greater. 
Maybe we need to invest on a smoother ride, if we are to care for our populace.....

Drive to rein in rash, young speedsters........The Timesof India,July 26th page 3.

The only way to get these speedsters become responsible citizens, is to block their licence for 5 years if caught over speeding. Their Names, PAN Card Nos, UID Nos, Passport No. must all be placed online to ensure they do not get another licence by corrupt methods. If they manage to, then the concerned officer who issues the licence gets suspended for a year from service.

In Mankhurd BMW accident cops go for culpable homicide.... Headlines, Mumbai Mirror,12th February 2013

Is it necessary to sensationalize a crime.
If the Cops do not book the offender under the correct IPC there is an issue.If booked there is an issue.

Regret for the sake of sales news reporters are creating a sensation.

Can we have plain vanilla reporting.

Can the reporter instead show how best such incidents can be resolved.

Can we all be part of the solution, rather than the problem.

Drinking and Driving is a Crime.

The levels are debatable. The fact that the person had alcohol content in their stream and committed the accident, is indicative of lack of functional controls.

Let there be no mercy. All individuals must know their limits and stay within it. If it leads to conviction so be it.

 

Road Sense...............

Can the Traffic Authorities do away with all the speed breakers in the city,
and get to those drivers who violate Traffic Rules & Discipline.
Penalty should not be only a monetary fine, but also compulsory  attend a Road Sense Class, which must extend beyond an hour.
Presently these rash delinquents, think they can get away with a monetary fine.
We need to hurt them where it hurts most. That is on their time.
If after attending two class, his behaviour does not improve, then his licence gets revoked.
This re vocal is displayed on a website, so that before fresh issuance, the concerned officer can check if he is a banned driver or not. This act will compel all drivers to be responsible citizens.
We who travel by the public transport today, have to bear the violent motions caused by these speed bumps, as these are Weapons of Mass Discomfort.

Truck eats up walking space.. pg 8, Mumbai Mirror, 25th April 2013

The better way to bring to a halt all these inconveniences is to declare all streets up to 3 lanes to be Non Parking  at all times.This one act will ensure No Vehicles stay beyond a max. time limit of 2 minutes if needed to disembark a passenger/member of the vehicle.

All Vehicles should have their Owners Mobile Numbers registered with the R.T.O.
Policemen should cease to Tow Vehicles. Instead they should send an SMS to the RTO Control Room. The Control Room in turn sends an SMS to the Vehicle Owner asking him to clear the vehicle immediately. The clock starts. The minute the Vehicle Owner or its driver approaches to clear the vehicle he meets the Policeman. The Policemen asks the Vehicle Owner or Driver to SMS the Control Room, and in turn gets the Fine amount displayed on his Mobile. He either pays the amount and collects receipt, or has it debited to his account, which gets paid ASAP.The Policeman informs the RTO the time when the Vehicle has cleared the spot.

This will avoid all corruption, and ensure Road Discipline.

Currently we have many vehicles that park haphazard on the Lane because of the presence of a road side market. The two lane street thus gets converted to a one lane street, causing untold hardship for all.
If this way to fine the vehicles is adopted, soon we will have a smooth travel anywhere in the city.

Billing the Bill...........

I did write on this earlier which I now copy below:

As one travels along the suburban trains in Mumbai, you see all sorts of Hand Bills advertising services or products stuck haphazardly in an annoying fashion in the compartment.

The best way to resolve this issue is for the Railways to enter into an agreement with the concerned Telephone/Cell phone service providers. At regular intervals, the Railways only need to collect the advertised numbers on display, and inform the concerned service providers to block the advertised number.

When the client visits the service provider, he is asked to get a NOC from the Railways. When he approaches the Railways, he is asked to clean up the mess he has created or Pay a fine of Rs xxxxx

This one act will ensure in a short time all trains and other public utilities are not disfigured. 

Billing the Bill

Rail Safety...

It is common to see vagabonds and Drifters lie low by the Tracks and strike at unsuspecting travellers, in the hope they drop a  bag/wallet held on hand. This act causes untold misery on the inflicted as above.

The better way to resolve this is for suburban trains to have low light vision cameras fitted to the drivers and gaurds cabins and capture all images as they pass by. This is relayed in real time at a centre, and any suspicious activity is alerted to the local police who investigates and files a report or nabs the culprits immediate and these culprits are exposed in the Press so that they are shamed for doing so. 

They are then Punished as per law.

Beggar Stroke

It is unfortunate, while we plan to develop Mumbai as a 21st Century City, the law enforcing authorities have failed in their endeavours. Beggars of all types infest the streets, making it their home. The Metro has just been inaugurated, and at DN Nagar below the station, they have arrived to make this their new home.

These Beggars should be gathered in a vehicle and sent to the Beggars Home.
Here they get segregated into Male, Female and Child. The able bodied males should be taught appropriate skill sets and made to work either within the premises or outside, creating useful products for sale. The able bodied women skilled to prepare products that find usefulness in homes.

We need to ensure they do not return to beg. It is the responsibility of every Police Station to ensure, their jurisdictions are beggar free. They need to be handled with humanity and strictness to achieve desired results.

Illegal Extensions

From the images above, one can see how a structure built recently, and the occupants on the ground have extended right upto the road front. They all would have paid for 250 square feet shop, and now occupy a 750 square feet area used to randomly store goods or use as food outlets.

The better way is to levy a charge 100 X the std levy applied to the shop Per Square Foot. All areas above what has been shown in the Plan is to be charged until the owners can prove they do not occupy the open spaces.

The images are at Indian Oil Nagar, Andheri west.

A Street Named......Desire

Streets should be named after Social workers who have lived on the very same street

and Contributed to its betterment.

Roads should be similarly named after District level Social workers.
Highways should be named after National level Leaders

Once these Norms are Laid and Established, there will be No wanton clamour by Political parties to have spaces named after Moneybags.

Also Street names should be changed every 25 yrs, while Roads change names every 50 yrs, and National ways every 100 yrs.

Incidentally it would be nice to know Dr. Ashok Chopra's contribution towards the area, other than being Priyanka Chopra's Father, that a Street has to be named after him. 

Let Amber be the new Red

While Seat Belt is Good, it is more important to ensure all traffic come to a halt when the signal is Amber (Yellow/Orange), and not wait for Red. This One change of Norm will reduce signal accidents drastically.

Put them behind bars

Any individual who uses muscle power on a state official, has to be put under security( Jail) for 24 hrs before being bailed. This one act will ensure there is No Road/other type of Rage.

The Blind Can Walk

I have said in my earlier blogs that we must involve Architects to take up a street and pave it in a way that adds value to the area. They design the street furniture, the kioks and street lamps, and highlight the character of the town. Even the buildings on the street are under their vision. The kind of Shop Banners etc are under their guidance. This alone will create a better City. The Municipality & The local Police are the ensuring authorities.

A road that is repaired or made new, should be such that a blind can walk without stumbling.

The terms of the contract should be such that 50% value is paid on completion, and the rest in 3 equal installments.Each installment paid at the end of a year, if earned in time will carry nominal interest as paid by the Banks. Before any installment is due for payment, the Contractor with the Civic Ward Engineer + Municipal Councillor + Citizens Group representative will inspect the status of the work done. If any two of the three members find fault in the workmanship of the road work, payment can be delayed until rectified to satisfaction. The date of next payment is counted from last payment date. Delayed payments attract no interest. Thus by default the road must be in good condition for a minimum of 3 years after handover.
http://simplesolutionsforall.blogspot.in/2011/12/blind-walk.html

Tinted Glasses

There should be zero tolerance to Cars with Tinted Glasses. Fines should be scaled to ensure the law is followed.

Noise Pollution....

Can we create more Silence zones and ensure no honking. Currently we see Cars honking even if it is a simple jam. No one has the patience to wait an extra minute and let the traffic clear. As we walk down the streets, the constant honking leaves us depressed. Also it is noticed that the signal is Red, the Traffic is at halt , yet the Hoot of the Ambulance is continuous. Can we have the Ambulances Siren only when needed.

The dB of these horns should be within notified hertz which are audible to the human ear. Bikers who disconnect their silencers should be fined in excess of Rs 1000/- for the offence every time stopped for this nuisance.

Pay Scales in Aided & Unaided Private Schools...

The Education Department should Inspect all Records of Private Schools Aided & Unaided and ensure the Teachers are Paid as per the Pay Commission. Currently most Private Schools escape paying their Teachers as required, under the Guise of being Unaware of the Pay Scales. It is the duty of the Education Inspector to ensure the scales are followed.

Teachers should Not be on Election Duty

It is Regrettable to see Teachers being placed on Election Duty. This responsibility of working with the Election Commission at the time of elections should solely be the responsibility of Municipal, State and Central Government staff. 

Teachers are required to Teach and they must Teach well. No work other than Teaching should be alloted to Teachers.