Not a NICE story

People remain mute spectators as politicians scuttle road project

By M. Gautham Machaiah

On a lucky day, it would take you at least four hours to travel between the Jindal Institute on Tumkur road and Electronic City on Hosur road. But on the newly laid Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) peripheral ring road, it would take barely half-an-hour to zip from one corner of Bangalore to the other. But the dream-come-true story ends here.

Though work on the 41 km road is almost complete, it is yet to be fully operational as the government has failed to grant land to NICE at crucial intersections. Thus, while you have international standard roads on either side of the intersection, there is no bridge to connect them.

After comfortably cruising on the NICE road, you suddenly encounter a dirt track at each intersection. This small stretch is in such a pathetic condition that it can take a heavy toll both on you and your vehicle.

The fact that land has not been granted to NICE at key locations smacks of bureaucratic apathy and political vindictiveness. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his coterie of officers have spared no efforts to scuttle the project solely to settle scores with NICE Managing Director Ashok Kheny.

Though Kheny has been fighting a lone battle against his detractors, the citizens of Bangalore have remained mute spectators. The citizens would rather stomach a roller coaster ride or drive through maddening traffic, but fail to raise their voice against insensitive politicians and bureaucrats. This is what emboldens our netas.

None can stand up against the might of the people. But the people of Bangalore do not seem to know their own strength. They would rather meekly accept the diktat of self-serving politicians than stand up against them.

With President’s rule imposed on Karnataka, politicians have taken the backseat. The Governor and his Executive Council of Advisors who now run the State should seize the opportunity and clear the roadblocks in the way of the project.

The people of Bangalore who are notorious for their adjust maadi culture, have been patient for way to long. But history has also demonstrated that Bangalore is like volcano which can erupt with fury any moment. It is time the powers-that-be stopped taking Bangaloreans for granted.