Our First ride in " My Metro" ("माझी मेट्रो")

One of the closer metro station to our house is Subhash Nagar metro station. It is on Aqua Line, which was inaugurated on 29 January 2020. 
During our evening walk we go up to Sheetla Mata Mandir. Subhash Nagar metro station is just 100 - 200 meters from there.
Yesterday when we reached Sheetla Mata Mandir I suggested to go and have a look at Subhash Nagar metro station.

When we reached there Priti suggested "why not take a ride". So we went and got a return ticket from Subhash Nagar to Lokmanya Nagar.
Total duration of the trip from Subhash Nagar to Lokmanya Nagar was of 30 minutes duration, including the wait time for the same train to start back on it journey back to Burdi.
Station has been made very passenger friendly. To reach metro platform there is a lift, an escalator and a wide staircase with support rails.

The ticketing staff is friendly. We paid Rs 10 for travel on the metro. From discussion with ticketing staff I got the impression that on this Rs 10 ticket one can travel from end to end stations or any intermediate distance. So we paid Rs 40 for our first return trip and may pay same for all future trips.

To access the platform first you have to cross electronically controlled gate which opens when the  QR code printed on the ticket is put on the QR code scanner of the gate. As soon as ticket is scanned gate opens. Pass through a security check and on to platform.

Through out the station premise information boards are displaying information covering every aspect of travel by "माझी  मेट्रो"

 Security personnel are patrolling on the station premise and on platforms.

Coaches are brand new and veri clean, well ventilated by ac and well lighted . By every door present station and up coming stations are indicated.

Inside the coach also all sorts of useful information displayed. There was not mush crowd may be because it was only the second day of operation and public is still not sure about the service

 I have travelled in Delhi metro which are now few years old. Still the cleanliness on the coaches, the platform and the stations are still  maintained in top condition. People do not litterant where in metro area. They do not spit in the coaches or any where.

It was our first ride in "माझी  मेट्रो" we felt very proud that Nagpur is one of the very few cities which have this facilities. When we went for the ride every thing was sick and span, clean.

I only pray and wish that the undisciplined nagpurians no not treat "माझी  मेट्रो"the same way they treat traffic rules and use nicely coming up wide roads.

Slip Shod execution of work. Waste of Tax Payers Money.

Lot of work was going on in our area for long time. Deep ditches were being laid to lay very heavy to heavy duty electricity cables. After lot of inconvenience to public over long period of time finally the cables were laid the ditches filled up.
For a change the top surface of ditches was levelled and cemented.
A great improvement over previous practise of covering the ditches with almost a foot of mound of loose earth causing problems to public and presenting ugly sight to already moon-scaped road surfaces.
The work of connecting heavy duty cables to distribution cabinet has been done in extremely slipshod manner. Heavy duty cables have not been cut to correct lengths. To play it safe almost at every steel distribution box, cables were left with extra length. While filling the ditches and concreting the surface, extra length of cables have not been buried properly and surface cemented with heavy duty cables exposed. Now that the surface has been cemented these will remain exposed forever with attendant danger in future   .
Apparently either no inspection was carried out after execution of work or inspecting personnel have been totally irresponsible and negligent in their duties.
Decent looking newly installed steel distribution boxes have been pasted all over by advertising pamphlets. No legal action is ever initiated against such people who disfigure public property. This should not be difficult as the address and phone numbers are prominently printed on the offending pamphlets.
All this indicated total lack of accountability, negligent and irresponsible attitude pervasive in babudom.
Babudom ki Jai ho. Nothing and no one can defeat you !

 Extra cable lying exposed. Advt pamphlets pasted.

Extra cable lying exposed. Advt pamphlets pasted.

Extra cable lying exposed. Advt pamphlets pasted.

Extra cable lying exposed. Danger to public.

Only zero point one place where proper work has been done. 

Extra cable lying exposed. Danger to public.

When I got up in the morning they was slight drizzle. I hoped it would stop by the time I go for my morning walk, un encumbered with an umbrella.

Got my wish.

While on a three lane concrete road saw a phenomena which intrigued me. 

Of the tree lane concrete road, the centre lane was still wet and glistening where as other two lanes on either sides were absolutely dry.

All the lanes were built almost at the same time. Same concrete mix. Same process. Same contractor, then why such diverse reaction to water. One

retaining wetness others bone dry.

Unable to come up with logical explanation.  

Wet centre lane. Dry side lanes.

Letters to Editor The Hutavada.

"Forest Department accomplishes Target of planting 33 cr seedlings". This news item, published in big bold letters ​in The Hitavada, ​Drew my attention.​ This was not the only news item, there have been many others ​    ​wi​th similar news published in recent past.

Not only local news papers but such news items are also seen in National ​News papers.

All these organisations, leaders and officials who sho​u​t their feats of achieving tree plantation ​targets​​miss the woods for the trees.

Put intended.

​Absymal survival rate of such 'target achieving' tree plantation drives are common knowledge.

​​All these people claiming achieving plantation targets  must be told ​that, ​what matters is not how many seedlings were planted but "HOW MANY SURVIVED"

We will be better off even if ​targets are reduced by half​,​ BUT proper care​,​ ​post plantation, ​is taken to ensure survival rate of at least 80 - 90 percent.

No thinking ! No imagination !!. Chalta Hai Attitude.!!!

In my beloved Nagpur.

We have this.

Why we can not have this.

Two pictures above show one and the same thing.

Provision to access valves of under ground water supply lines.

Picture on top shows how it is achieved in Nagpur. Just one hole is provided in properly built pavement of interlocking blocks. Due to traffic interlocking blocks are dislodged. Hole  turns in a pothole and becomes a potential accident spot. It is obvious those responsible have not applied their mind to provide proper facility for covering the valve opening.

Lower photo shows how it should be done. Those authorities do this because they apply their mind,have imagination !!. Do not have Chalta Hai Attitude.!!!    

Letter to Editor City mail.

 After a long time wrote a letter to Editor.
Potholes Repair.

The Hitavada quite  prominently printed action taken by ​Mpl ​Ccommissioner after getting a rap from High Court.

Writing to National Highways Authority, Nagpur Improvements Trust, G M Maha Metro, Public Works Department etc.​ ​was totally on expected lines.
Reading the Hitavada report gives the impression that Municipal Corporation ​oOf Nagpur has ​NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER in maintenance of roads within the municipal limits.

Classic case of passing the buck. It can now be claimed that most prompt action was taken by Mpl Commissioner's office.

 If ​road condition does not improve​,​ it would be fault of na​med agencies.

If​, based on Hitavada report,​ Honourable High Court takes suo-Moto cognizance​ of pathetic condition of fo​otpaths​ one can be sure that another letter will go to all imaginable agencies to take prompt action to repair the footpaths.

​No action taken to relieve the miseries of the common man.

​PM Velankar