tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post6561971492624214352..comments2024-03-27T13:58:06.458+05:30Comments on Suvro Chatterjee bemused: Panagarh: perpetual nightmareSuvro Chatterjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-85638623644501582282014-03-23T21:21:57.384+05:302014-03-23T21:21:57.384+05:30Sir,
Strange and sad how nothing has been done ab...Sir,<br /><br />Strange and sad how nothing has been done about it in even three years time. It is still the same, and we still face the same difficulties and there is a constant fear that we will be stuck in the traffic jam.<br /><br />Baba, who travels everyday on that road complains about how that is the stretch which takes almost an hour to cross. If he is lucky he gets through in not less than 45 minutes. If only for that stretch the drive is such a pleasure. But alas! I don't think anything will be done about it, ever...<br /><br />SriranjaniSriranjanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314639202402158374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-33093691973386084212012-01-19T09:21:09.448+05:302012-01-19T09:21:09.448+05:30Abir, I hope that your father recovers soon....
...Abir, I hope that your father recovers soon....<br /> <br />I'll comment sometime on the main contents of this post another day because it stays in my head, and much like other times I'm reduced to praying.<br /> <br />One thing I'll mention is that I've been feeling more and more that Americans (in spite of their much touted individualism) are much more collective in spirit when it comes to maintaining fantastic libraries, clean surroundings, and good roads, and preserving or conserving natural surroundings in a sensible way...and there is much, much more there that is good and right but also much that doesn't make any sense and much that is bad or wrong.<br /> <br />So, I have to object about the priorities bit. This is public information, and so I'm not revealing anything that I mustn't - but the football coach at my university (Purdue) makes half a million dollars as his yearly salary, and he received a raise just this last year. It is a network that's operating. Sure. Sponsors and where money comes and <i>how</i> <i>much</i> and <i>for</i> <i>what</i> and <i>why</i>...but monetary shortage? - I am forced to say a very polite, 'give me a break'...Shilpihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03106170029106184978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-85272340358965786272012-01-17T22:27:22.402+05:302012-01-17T22:27:22.402+05:30Yes Sir that was me. While this is one extreme of ...Yes Sir that was me. While this is one extreme of the story, there is another extreme of the story in China. Recently I was looking a documentary in which China, to build upon its GDP, simply constructed a deserted city full of skyscrapers and a giant shopping mall. There are about 5 odd employees in the shopping mall and almost all the skyscrapers doesn't have any tenant at all. This despite so many people living in the slums. That way of increasing GDP is meaningless. But this is a different story of a different country. And yes, as you told, the priorities of development have gone the wrong way. In the institutes be it IIT, or any other, they concentrate on replacing concrete floors with floors made of tiles or marble, rather than getting new instruments. So much is wasted the wrong way. Since I am an organic chemist I would say the chemistry labs in US look rather shabby than some of those in India. But they are more developed because they got more instruments, and have their priorities right. I agree that US is rich and can have more infrastructure, but now in US too, like in India, there is always a monetary shortage and that's where they think about their priorities. In India whether they have money or not the priority is always corruption. But there is a new chief minister now, who seems to have her priorities right. Let's see how far she delivers on her words. Abir.Abirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06325313888622383124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-70781012151668577752012-01-17T21:47:25.639+05:302012-01-17T21:47:25.639+05:30Hello, is that Abir Bhattacharya? The news is hear...Hello, is that Abir Bhattacharya? The news is heartbreaking - as it is with me every time I hear that someone I knew has been a victim. I do, do hope your father will recover fully, and soon. <br /><br />I write this sort of thing in the faint hope that someday our country will become civilized in the sense that we will all take more responsibility, not imagining that accidents only happen to 'other people'. As of now, that collective will to improve things is lacking, though the casualty toll becomes grotesquely higher with every passing year. We are still obsessed with the notion that progress should be measured simply by more cars, mobiles, TV channels and shopping malls...Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-3253492723415920792012-01-17T21:35:44.974+05:302012-01-17T21:35:44.974+05:30I know Sir. This stretch of Panagarh will forever ...I know Sir. This stretch of Panagarh will forever have an impression in my mind. My life turned around it. As you might remember that way back in 2007 my father had an accident, a collision of a rented Tata Sumo and a truck, after which he was in coma for 2 months and till date he is bed-ridden, paralysed and incapable of even communicating with people. Thanks for writing about it. Wish you well. Abir.Abirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06325313888622383124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-73131102552269431232011-10-17T17:14:49.786+05:302011-10-17T17:14:49.786+05:30My sympathies, Chitra. I personally know scores of...My sympathies, Chitra. I personally know scores of people who have suffered worse traumas in recent times, including people accompanying patients who have just suffered heart attacks and strokes. But someone in Durgapur should have told you that a mere one hour buffer was a very bad idea - you should have set out with at least <i>four</i> hours to spare.<br /><br />I wish you better luck next time. If I had to take an early morning flight from Kolkata, I'd travel the previous afternoon and stay the night with someone, or in a hotel not far from the airport.Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-65959163246439605682011-10-17T16:43:04.410+05:302011-10-17T16:43:04.410+05:30Dear Sir,
Only 4 days back I missed my flight to ...Dear Sir,<br /><br />Only 4 days back I missed my flight to Mumbai thanks to the Panagarh road block. It was an early morning take-off and I had left from home with a good one hour buffer. Yet, I did not manage to make it on time. Needless to say I lost out on a lot of hard-earned money (got Rs.300 back on cancellation and an on-the-spot booking cost me another bomb) I have sworn never to take the highway again, unless of course I become a millionaire.Noodlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18310841631755085121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-61816373352490193682011-10-10T23:13:55.447+05:302011-10-10T23:13:55.447+05:30Dear Sir,
Since I go home every Sunday, I have to...Dear Sir,<br /><br />Since I go home every Sunday, I have to face this nightmare twice a week and my mother renamed Panagarh as 'Jamgarh'. And needless to say, every time I see two long lines of lorries on either side of the road. I consider myself lucky if I am able to reach Durgapur by four hours these days.<br />Leaving aside the ever-delayed flyover, even if the road is repaired and the vehicles stick to their lanes (handled by efficient police), the condition can become much better. And what's more annoying is that the very few days in which RAF operates, it's a smooth ride. And once they disappear, it's back to the nightmare.<br /><br />Thanks and with regards,<br />Sayantikasayantikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13501892242958304832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-69551194081011781402011-10-04T22:13:05.493+05:302011-10-04T22:13:05.493+05:30What can I say? Igo back to Durgapur after many ye...What can I say? Igo back to Durgapur after many years and every time it is the same...Rajdeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11818620573071587427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30819742.post-50388589467160613172011-10-04T19:04:15.625+05:302011-10-04T19:04:15.625+05:30The shopkeepers and garage owners along that parti...The shopkeepers and garage owners along that particular stretch -- must have heavy political clout to hold off for 10 long years. And as per the Telegraph report, NHAI is contemplating building a 90+ km bye-pass skirting Panagarh! As if that particular stretch is equivalent to the famous Las Vegas Strip and just can't be touched. <br />And Sir, as you mused, these things are indeed India specific. There is just no answer to these issues. Maybe it's because of our 'sab chalta hai' attitude; 2 steps forward 1 step backward attitude; start off something enthusiastically and then lose steam and interest midway attitude etc.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />SunupSunupnoreply@blogger.com