Mumbai Rains - Traffic Woes

What happens when it rains in Mumbai? Roads get filled with water, slowing down the traffic. Take a look at these pictures that speak for themselves.

Busy traffic junction flooded with water during the rains.

Mumbai Rains

Rains in Mumbai floods roads

Traffic junction flooded due to rains

Traffic still flowing smoothly like the water on the roads at this junction!

Fascinating site isn't it? The best part is that the traffic at this particular junction just never stops or gets jammed due to any reason. It flows smoothly, without any help from the traffic cops or the traffic lights. Well, rains in Mumbai have always known to bring a whole load of woes to its population. However, this year, thankfully things have been relatively smooth, and it's actually the capital New Delhi that's facing a flooding crisis at the moment with its river Yamuna that has risen to dangerous levels. Will Delhi survive the crisis? Let's hope so...

When Traffic Lights Don't Work

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Mumbai is a busy city, a city that never sleeps! People are forever running up and down and the traffic is like the pulse of the city, forever throbbing. If you just step out of your home in Mumbai, you will be swept like the tide in the flow of this traffic and will be forced to keep pace with it. However, the traffic is never smooth as there are hundreds and thousands of traffic lights all over the city at various junctions. 

These traffic lights are meant to help regulate the flow of traffic through the maze of the roads in a smooth and efficient manner. Now, that might have been possible, if it weren't for the traffic cops who are stationed in some of the most busiest intersections who make it a point to create more chaos. They are much more interested in making a fast buck out of errant drivers, traffic violators, and taking their daily or weekly bribes from the truck drivers and auto drivers, than making sure that the traffic flows smoothly and that there shouldn't be a jam. But you can be sure that if there is a traffic jam somewhere...there has to be a traffic cop near it!

Busy intersection where six roads meet and the traffic lights don't work in Thane.

Having staying in Mumbai for quite a few years now, I have got used to this scenario. In fact, this happens not only in Mumbai, but all over India. Go to any city, or place...the result is the same. Traffic jam means there is a traffic cop close by. Had there been no cop, things would have probably moved in a faster pace. I wonder what these traffic cops are taught? Do they really know how to deal with traffic problems? 

Anyway, so stating the above, I was surprised to see this particular junction (as seen in the picture above) which is equally busy throughout the day, and has six roads meeting it, with traffic lights that don't work, and NO traffic cop to supervise the traffic either. This road is right in front of the building where I stay in Thane. And what is interesting to observe about this junction is that the traffic never gets jammed here. Yes, the traffic continues to flow smoothly without any interference from cops or any other source whatsoever.

As you can see, the traffic moves in all directions here, including a "U" Turn and the vehicles often break lots of traffic rules here, even going on the wrong side of the road. But..the traffic never stops. The vehicles, as you can observe in the picture, are moving straight ahead, taking a "U" Turn at the junction, or turning right, there is oncoming traffic from the road on the right as well that either goes right or straight ahead to join the road in front, and traffic coming from the opposite side, that will either go straight or take "U" turn...So, traffic in all directions possible!

Traffic flowing in all directions smoothly

In addition, there is also a long line of Auto Rickshaws queued up for CNG at the nearby petrol pump that stretches all along the road, way back! See the subsequent pictures of this queue! Fascinating. To add to the obstacles in this junction is a manhole which at times is gaping open, and times dug up and filled temporarily hampering the traffic coming from the opposite side or turning into this road. And then there are the rains, which cause this road to fill up with water. But, in spite of all this, the traffic still manages to surge throughout the day, without any major hangups or problems...I am amazed and fascinated by this sight on a daily basis.

Long queue of auto rickshaws for CNG (Pic 1)

Long queue of auto rickshaws for CNG (Pic 2)

Long queue of auto rickshaws for CNG (Pic 3)

Long queue of auto rickshaws for CNG (Pic 4)

So, what happens when traffic lights don't work, and there are no cops nearby? The result is here for all to see. A living proof and example of how Mumbai can manage quite well without interference from the civic authorities who do nothing other than harass the public at large, by abusing their power and being corrupt. A point to be mentioned here, is that just ahead of this junction, there is the main junction where there are a hoard of traffic cops sitting and where the traffic lights are working just fine. Why do you need cops there? 

Anyway, a picture speaks for itself...! See for yourself.

What does Independence Day mean to you?

India is celebrating it's 64th year of independence from the colonial rule on the 15th of August, 2010. That's right...64 years of freedom. Find it hard to believe?The one's sitting high up there in the position of governance may be the only one's who find that easy to believe..as they have been busy all these years in abusing their power and amassing wealth in the name of taxes and such. But what does this Independence Day mean to the common man? Me and you?

The British and other nations that ruled our country did their best to loot our natural resources and export them to other parts of the world for their own economical growth and power. The British Raj was also responsible for levying heavy taxes on the poor farmers so that the land could never be their own and they would forever be in debt to the landowners...

15th August 1947, was "apparently" a proud moment for all of the Indians for we were at last free from foreign rulers and the land now truly belonged to US! The British left, no doubt after looting all the treasures that they could lay their hands on and taking them along as mementos to their own country...Many valuable gems found their way to the "Queen's" treasure in London.

We keep hearing of the sacrifices and the amount of bloodshed that was involved in getting us this very "valuable" Independence and freedom for our country, where many many innocent lives were lost and many martyrs were born. But, does all of that really have any significance today? Do we truly value that sacrifice or the lives that were lost, in the name of our country? What does Independence Day really mean to you?

For most people today, it's just a day, like any other that is enjoyed because its a holiday. Some people feel patriotic just because they go to the flag hoisting ceremony in the morning and sing the national anthem...Just a moment of patriotism, after which it is all forgotten. A few guilty ones may even buy the cheap flags from the roadside beggars and flash them in their cars or homes or put it on their dresses to show their "so called " patriotic feelings. But, is that really being patriotic? What does Independence Day mean to you?

The politicians are busy ruling the people (or should I say imposing rules) that nobody is happy with. Inflation keeps the common man on the run to make more and more money that is never enough to feed the hungry mouths in any household. The prices of all essential commodities today are atrociously high..that includes the common man's food like dal, rice, sugar and vegetables. With the high rate of poor people in our country..I really wonder how they are surviving?

These politicians have replaced the Britishers and continue to loot the country and the poor man by levying heavy taxes, having rampant corruption in bureaucratic offices, and being involved in scams of all kinds. The common man bears the brunt of all that goes on in the parliament house. I wonder if Independence Day has any real significance for these politicians?

The farmers even today are committing suicide. Surplus grain is found rotting in the government sponsored go-downs in every monsoon and millions of tons of food gets wasted as millions of children starve in our country...but their prices never come down.

Independence Day comes only once in every year and that is the only time that any thought is given to the defense forces in our country. They are soon forgotten for the rest of the year...Till some calamity like a flood, storm, accident, tsunami, earthquakes or a terrorist attack threatens the country. I wonder why they are not given more respect and recognition for their undying dedication to the country?

I remember an incident where I received a call from one of those telemarketing companies offering me a loan or some such thing and then wanted the details of my husband. She asked me about his "occupation" and I said, "He is an officer of the Indian Navy". You will be surprised to know that she did not know what "Indian Navy" meant. She kept insisting on knowing the name of the "employers or the company"..and I kept replying.."Indian Navy"..! Then she says.."Is that a shipping company?"....?? How ignorant are we?

What does this country really mean to the common man? to you and me? Are we truly proud of our heritage and inheritance? Do we really behave like "sisters and brothers" in the hour of need or are we just pawns in the hands of the clashing political parties who rule and divide us (or divide and rule) in the name of religions, caste creed, color, regions and languages etc..

How many of us even remember the "Pledge" that we used to recite each and everyday in school and its significance? The Indian National Pledge, if you remember, was an oath of allegiance to the Replublic of India. This pledge was written by Swami Vivekananda. The National Pledge is recited in schools during assemblies, during the Independence Day, and Republic Day Observance Ceremonies. This is how it goes:-

"India is my country ,all Indians are my brothers and sisters.

I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.

I shall always strive to be worthy of it.

I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders respect and treat everyone with courtesy.

To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion.

In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness."

Jai Hind!

To me Independence Day reminds me of the fact that our country is in our hands now and it is up to us to save it from being lost or looted by the hands of foreigners or our own people. We have had enough of bloodshed in the name of Independence and yet we continue to fight for this same freedom from our neighbors like Pakistan, Srilanka, China etc..not to mention the inner turmoil that goes on in several states. 

We need to free ourselves from the chains that bind us...these are the chains of caste, creed, religion, languages and states. We need to unite and become "ONE" again...HINDUSTAN, BHARAT and INDIA should become ONE...The day each and every Indian in this country is proud to say "fearlessly" that "I am an Indian" ...will truly be the day of "Independence"...

But will that happen? Will you rise to the occasion and save India, when the need arises? Are you willing to give up your life for it? Are you willing to fight for your "rights" and true freedom in this country? It's time to think and reflect as to what Independence day truly means to you. Wake up, Citizens....Jaago.

Jai Hind

On the occasion of the 64th Independence day celebrations on the 15th August 2010, as usual the National Flag will be hoisted by the Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh, at the Red Fort, New Delhi and will be telecast live on the web at 6:30 AM onwards.

This live Webcast is brought to you National Informatics Center...Watch Live Telecast of the Independence Day celebrations on 15th August, 2010...