Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Make transport system smooth

Finally,it is a great relief for Delhiites that the killer Blueline buses will be off the city roads from December 14. The Bluelines buses are not only killing Delhiites but also its staff treat the passengers very shabbily. The conductors’ behaviour with the passengers does not reflect any sense of civility. Reckeless driving, rude behavoiur with passengers and arbitrary movement are the hallmarks of blueline buses in Delhi.Apart from mental, economic and physical torture, the Delhiites face all sorts of inconveniences in blueline. Pickpockets have the hay day in Blueline buses on all routes. The most suprising thing is that they pick pockets in the knowledge of conductors and cleaners of the buses. Conductors and cleaners never come to the rescue of the victims of pick pockets as they are also beneficiaries in their criminal acts.As far as the role of police is concerned, it unspeakable. It is also open secrete in Delhi that the Delhi police personnel who are deputed on their beat too reportedly have the share in the booty of the pick pockets. So, they also never come to the rescue of the victims . Blueline buses are the black spots on the face of Delhi. They must go off the roads as early as possible. But as far as smooth transport system in the national capital Delhi is concerned, it can not be possible by only replacing the Blueline buses with adequate number of DTC buses. When both Blueline and DTC buses are running together on the same route, DTC drivers and conductors are bribed by Blueline bus operators to go slow and avoid stoppages at the Bus Stop so that passengers could have no alternative but to board the blueline buses. Since the introduction of Delhi Metro Rail in the city, the pressure on buses have lessened considerably. But being the national capital city and the rise of unchecked population in Delhi, the transport system must be of highest order, which it is still lacking. The blueline buses, which earned notoriety for reckless driving, will be off the Delhi roads completely from 14th December. There are around 2,400 blueline buses operating in the capital of which 1,600 where shunted out ahead of the Commonwealth Games earlier this month. Around 8,000 employees were dependent on these buses for their livelihood.Out of the 1,600 buses to be shunted out, 835 were allowed to ply in non-NDMC areas from last week but its permit will also be revoked by this weekend.The Delhi High Court had stayed the Government’s move to phase out the blueline buses in February this year arguing that the DTC alone was not capable to meet the requirement of public transport.The government was trying to get rid of private buses in the capital and replace them with a new fleet of DTC buses in the past couple of years.Over 1,000 new low-floor buses, which were used to ferry athletes and dignitaries during the Games, have now been included in DTC’s fleet. The DTC will also induct more buses in its fleet in the coming days.The DTC buses also need to be overhauled to provide better services to Delhiites. The most troublesome thing in DTC buses for the passengers is that its conductors do rise from alloted chair to collect fares even if the bus is packed to suffocation. In the prevailing situation, most of the passengers have to travel without tickets not because of their desire but because of conductors' apathy to their duty. So untill and unless the DTC is overhauled from top to bottom, the number of buses can not provide the smooth transport system in Delhi.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

PM's satisfactory visit to Japan

Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh has concluded his 3-day visit to Japan during which both the countries decided to hasten negotiations on a civil nuclear deal and agreed on a range of other issues to take their strategic partnership to new heights. India and Japan also announced the firming up of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, which will open trade between the two countries and slashing of taxes up to 94 percent over the next decade. Prime Minister talked with his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan, leaders from business and politics during which they discussed ways to further improve their ties.It is clear from from the bonhomie and mutual respect that existed during PM's visit that there are no limits of scope for co-operation between Indian and Japan. Both Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart appeared keen on developing relations in every field between the two countries. The two Prime Ministers had comprehensive and detailed discussions and felt the need for developing all encompassing relations covering political, economy and security aspects. The two sides also decided to establish a ministerial level Economic Dialogue between India and Japan to give strategic and long-term policy orientation to their bilateral engagement. The proposal was mooted by Japan, which already has such a Dialogue with China. Singh and Kan have affirmed that cooperation in nuclear sector will open up new opportunities for further developing the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership. At the same time Prime Minister Singh has taken utmost care of the sensitivities of Japan to nuclear arms as Japan is the only country where atom bombs were dropped during the second World War 11. As it is a declaed stand of India that with whichever country it signs Nuclear Deal, it is for peaceful purpses and energy for development. So, Japan need not be sceptical about India's intention as far as Nuclear Deal is concerned . India will never force any country to strike the nuclear deal. The two leaders also encouraged their negotiators to arrive at a mutually-satisfactory agreement for civil nuclear cooperation at an early date. The co-operation in the field of economy between Japan and India is vital for both the countries. In a breakthrough in bilateral economic relations, India and Japan have successfully concluded negotiations for a CEPA pact that will liberalise trade between them, even as PM Manmohan Singh promised to carry forward reforms of taxes, financial sector and capital markets. The progress in the talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came at the end of discussions between Singh and his Japanese counterpart Naota Kan which covered a wide range of subjects. It is all likelyhood that India and Japan CEPA will be signed at the earliest at Ministerial level, on completion of necessary formalities by both sides.Both sides are of view that the CEPA will be truly comprehensive by including fields that range from Trade in Goods, Investment, Trade in Services, and Movement of Natural Persons to Intellectual Property, Competition, Improvement of the Business Environment, Bilateral Cooperation and so forth.Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan has been successful and if the zeal and enthusiam shown by both sides as during the visit, there would open a new chapter of relations between Japan and India. As India has been very keen to strengthen relations with East Asian countries for almost 30 years, India and Japan would show the light of peace and development to the world by expanding the areas of co-operation.

Monday, October 4, 2010

A glittering ceremony

The world became bedazzled and entire nations felt pride at the spectacular start of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, 2010, which goes underway in the city. India showed the world that it is capable of holding the international sporting event better than else other in the world. It has made long stride, leaving many others far behind.All the criticism of the preparations for the Games vanished at the grand arrangement on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony. National and international media, which had bitterly criticised the organising Committee, Govt. of India, Delhi Government and various other agencies entrusted with the task , had to praise profusely at the spectacular start of the Games. The credit goes to Govt. of India and Delhi police for security arrangement of highest standard and vigil. The magnificent ways in which India’s diverse culture and traditions were showcased at the inaugural ceremony left the world dumb-struck. The jubilancy and enthusiam the entire nation showed towards the Commonwealth Games forced the world to accept that India has gone farahead of most of thedeveloped developing countries. India's alround growth was reflected in the arrangement of the Games. Finally, Delhi Games were prepared in such a magnificent way that even those players who refused to come to Delhi to participate have shown desire to visit. And for that reason, the registration date for players to participate was extended to Oct 8. India’s diverse landscape, culture and traditions and how train of its journeys can unite the states were showcased by dancers from across the country accompanied by projections on the aerostat and performance on the ground. The Great Indian Journey, which drew a huge round of applause from the audience at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games , was composed using occupational songs and traditional folk songs from different states.Through projection on the aerostat and the performance unfolding on ground, it was a virtual journey that took everyone through India’s landscape, culture and traditions.The train of the great Indian Journey carried the aspirations of a billion people and represented the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural people of India coming together as one.The segment also replicated the Indian train journey complete with the omnipresent chaiwallahs and singing beggars.The World media have also come out with handsome praise. Even the foreign players have described the Delhi arrangement as extra-ordinary and better than all other previous Games.