RED LINE - BLUE LINE – DEAD LINE

Har shakh pe ullu baitha hai
Anjam- e- Gulistan Kya Hoga

This sher fits aptly on the present situation of the national capital. Blue Line buses killing Delhites without fail.

Similar was the situation of the Government when Red Line buses were causing havoc on Delhi roads. It took toll of large number of innocent people. There was no disciplinary agency to control Delhi city red buses. However, Mumbai has well organised and disciplined fleet of red buses and city bus service is doing exceedingly well.

As I have mentioned in my earlier article that if colours are handled properly, their energy can be used constructively.

It is surprising to hear that the complete Government machinery of Delhi is working hard to tame the Blue Line Buses – the transport lobby.

What a miracle it is! - an accident of Raja Garden sort happens – wherein the bus was full of passengers, the driver hits about 13 vehicles on a road as busy as Ring Road and the driver gets vanished from the scene of accident?

What a quick response from the Government side! Whenever there is a tragedy or a big accident – the Government; the Ministers and all the Government machinery gets charged. Immediately, the Minister concerned or the CM announces a compensation package for the victims of the accidents and an enquiry committee or enquiry commission is set up to investigate the accident and after that everything goes smoothly at least for them till another accident occurs.

Never mind, we Indians have become habitual to all that. Because we have become immune- we are literally dead – having no emotions for any one not even for ourselves.
There had been numerous fatal accidents by Blue Line –the Government has decided to phase the Blue line out of Delhi Roads. Of late, some stricter measures have been taken.- A News

Then – what a way to protest! - the Blue Line Bus owners have withdrawn their buses from the roads in protest of proper implementation of traffice rules. The Bus owners don’t want to understand that they have been given a licence to drive the buses and not to kill the innocent passengers.

Our Politicians are so efficient that when Red Line – started killing Delhites – instead of taking a preventive/ corrective action – they preferred to change the name and made it “Blue Line”. Can a change of name changes the basic instinct i.e. violation of rules - killing innocent passengers?

Instead of blood, corruption is flowing in our veins. Our mind, heart and body and soul – have been corrupted. We have become slaves of corruption. Right from top to bottom, we are coloured with corruption. We all know the fact that corruption starts from top to bottom. Our political leaders talk a lot about honesty, discipline and self restraint. Do they follow it in practice? What is the root cause of Blue Line bus problem?

Food for thought:

a. Are we so incompetent that even after 60 years of independence, we are unable to devise a public transport system for India in general and for the capital in particular?

b. What is the root cause of this Blue Line Problem? – Bus Operators – rampant Corruption in the Delhi Administration in general and in Delhi Police, Licensing Deptt. in particular.

c. Is there a nexus between the Transporters – Politicians-Government Deptts.?

d. Will the time come, when the politicians dare to think beyond their dirty and mean vote bank politics?

e. Is it not possible to be alert before something tragic or unwanted happens?

f. Have we got our conscious with us? If yes, where is it - Sleeping the Kumbhkarni sleep.

g. Are the politicians, bureaucrats, technocrats or the administrators not aware of the fact that “a stitch in time saves nine”?

Certainly, they are aware but they are more interested in nine stitches – as it would require more repair – more thread, more labour and more expertise to make nine stitches. And the end result - if there would be more stitches there would be more opportunities for Swiss bank accounts, frauds, scams and what not.

"100 mein se 99 baemaan"
"phir bhee MERA BHARAT MAHAN"

I hope, at least, this time the Delhi Government will lift itself above the vote bank politics and take a justifiable, viable and practical decision which when implemented could go a long way in solving at least the public transport problems of the people.

--Jagdish C Bisht