Bhopal Notes ::71 :: Minister shown Idgah Hills roads

http://www.bagchiblog.blogspot.com

Reports the other day in the newspapers said that the local  MLA Arif Aqeel and the Minister for Urban Development were taken on a round of the Idgah Hills area to show them the awful condition of its roads. They had come to the old Bhopal Nawab-era gate, re-designated as Shahid Gate, to express their sympathies for the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in Pulwama, Kashmir.

 Since the Shahid Gate is located at the foot of the Idgah Hills enthusiastic local people literally highjacked the minister and the MLA, taking them round to show them the terrible condition of the road. As a consequence, the matter made for the first time into the pages of the local edition of the Times of India on two successive days. Hopefully, the incompetence of the Mayor and the local councilor was also brought home to the minister. This has perhaps been the first time when people of an area have been somewhat aggressive in trying to capture the attention of politicians in an attempt to have their problems resolved.

I have been writing consistently about our Idgah roads, that is, the deplorable condition they were in. It has been claimed that residents of Idgah Hills are some of the highest tax payers of the city. Besides, Idgah Hills was at one time the abode of movers and shakers of the city as well as of the biggies of the state government. One can see the evidences of that in the government structures housing public offices that are still present in the area. There are even some  government bungalows that are still in use. However, with the new city coming up across the Upper Lake the importance of this area was lost and it was left to decay and virtually rot.

 Idgah Hills which hosts the state’s only TB Hospital, a massive cancer hospital and a smattering of missionary schools like St. Joseph and All Saint’s schools or even the
Cambridge School have not been able to weigh in with the government for the proper upkeep of its public assets. The progressive lack of attention by the authorities has brought the situation close to disaster. Resources get all the time diverted towards the newer part of the town which is now taking the shape of an urban sprawl.

I would like to recapitulate that soon after his election the current mayor had come and seen the Ridge Road for himself and promised a modern cement-concrete road. Obviously, even at that time condition of the road was appalling and it was not lost on the mayor. But almost five years have gone by the condition of the Ridge Road remains as it was. At least twice we heard that the road was going to be built and the earth breaking ceremony was also held but nothing happened. One can see some of the material lying on a vacant plot by the side of the road.

Call it municipal incompetence or whatever you will, the fact remains that citizens are tortured every day when they have to step out on to the. Road. I for one, an octogenarian had to give up my constitutionals for fear of broken limbs. But the municipal councilor was least bothered. For one whole year he never showed his face. What kind of a democracy it is when we do not see the face of the municipal councilor for extended lengths of time, forget about the local legislator and the MP. They seem to be there only for their own sake , not for those of the people.

Now that the minister and the local legislator themselves have got a taste of the roads in these parts it is hoped something good will come off pretty soon.