On Monday, I got first hand taste of the CWG lane, as I sat in a taxi, heading out of the city at peak rush hour traffic (5:30pm).
While thousands of vehicles were packed in barely two lanes of Sardar Patel Marg in front of Maurya Sheraton and Taj Hotel, slowly inching towards the next red light, lanes dedicated to Common Wealth Games Vehicles were playing host to an occasional police motorcycle, car and taxi, blistering past the stranded commuters, which not only consisted of Delhiites, but also foreigners and people from out of city i.e. our Atithis (guests).
Which got me thinking, are we actually being good and responsible hosts by facilitating quick commute for a handful of foreign dignitaries and sportsmen/women, at the cost of city residents and even guests, who might have come to the city to watch these games?
By creating an elitist stature for vehicles associated with Common Wealth Games and frustrating everyday commuters, isn’t our government actually promoting hatred/resentment towards an event, which ought to be celebrated and enjoyed by the people of this country?
Whatever it might be, but this behavior at least isn’t in my eye, corresponds to the feeling and spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava (A Guest is like God), which is the tagline of Incredible India and in part, spirit of our nation!
2 Comments
please suggest the alternative or the better option.
Traffic can be stopped at particular junctures, when athletes are being moved to specific venues. Of course that would mean that players will have to be escorted in a pre-determined and planned manner, thereby reducing the inconvenience to public to only at those small intervals.