The state of Kerala in India is a land of exquisite beauty, and Keralites call their land "God's own country." There can be no quarrel about that since its beautiful beaches, coconut and mango groves, back waters of the Arabian sea, mountains of the Western Ghats, serene temples, etc., do captivate one's heart and make one feel a special affinity to nature there. This blog , however, is unfortunately not about that beauty but about the roads of Kerala which are the worst death traps of absolute lawlessness and chaos.
Every life is precious, and Kerala, like any other state, owes to do its best to protect those of its citizens and visitors. Bereft of much industrial development, the state depends on tourism and is becoming a major destination for international tourism. The sustenance of that industry and the ability to ensure that visitors return and recommend the state as a tourist destination make it absolutely critical that the State acts decisively and firmly to improve conditions on its roads. Also, it should be a matter of pride and self respect for any state that it does not have to suffer a blog like this one. In short, this is being written not to ridicule or vent but to inspire a clean up which takes only better driver education and some rules and their efficient enforcement without corruption.
It is the curse of India that at Independence it was left with little broad roadways except the very very few that the colonial powers had built leading to ports in Calcutta, Bombay and Chennai primarily to ship its shameless loot to England and to its markets. While India has added much to its road network since independence, limitations in resources for expansion - and even more acutely for maintenance - have resulted in a situation where most roadways are narrow and in disrepair. In Kerala, the problem is compounded (like in West Bengal) by decades of Communist rule that has created an entitlement minded, lazy, and unruly labor force and cadre of public servants. Communist rule also left the state without much Central government support from the ruling Congress party over many decades. But those alone do not explain away why road trips in Kerala are a death defying experience. I have traveled in many cities and countrysides of Europe where roadways are narrow and even of cobble stones etc, and people do manage much better. It is more a matter of discipline, law and order, and the efficiency and truthfulness of law enforcers. In this, we can't blame the Britisher or anyone else but ourselves when we fail.
In case you are wondering what I am complaining about, let us take a typical experience of travel say from Coimbatore to Palakkad. There is supposedly a highway with two lanes in each direction, but intermittently long stretches of the lanes are closed for repair or clogged up by long lines of trucks waiting for clearance from state authorities. Traffic in a direction is rerouted onto a lane meant for the opposite direction and that too into the passing (overtaking) lane. But there are hardly any warnings that the roadway in the latter direction has turned into a two way with only one lane available for each side. One also wonders if such warnings would matter, for, even after near collision like experiences, drivers of all types of vehicles continue to recklessly overtake each other risking head on collisions at high speed. See the short video clip
which is one of the benign ones I shot and can show since most others came out too shaky from all the last minute coliison avoidance efforts of our driver.
Indeed, even when two lanes are available in each direction, it is common for vehicles to use one in the wrong direction to gain speed, and sometimes they do this right under the nose of police officers who stand and watch. See the video clip
An Australian friend of mine once described road travel in India as a macabre game of chicken, and the ones in Kerala are versions meant for the champion dare devils only. Are there any studies on the rate of traffic accidents and those resulting in serious injury and deaths in Kerala and those especially related to careless overtaking ? Why can't authorities post clear warnings of traffic reroutes repeating them periodically as reminders, make the affected sections no-passing zones, and above all enforce the rules strictly? Aren't these a matter of common sense or a part of their duty?
In the least, authorities can stop contributing and adding to the problem. Once again, the Vazhayar check point along the Coimbatore Palakkad route is a worthy example. Many vehicles including trucks are stopped here by authorities right on the roadway causing tremendous headaches and delays for all. Tourist taxis and commercial vehicles are required to buy an interstate permit but do this at the check point shed leaving the vehicle on the roadway adding to the clutter; why can't this be done online and receipts simply collected or checked at a toll booth on a pass through basis? Not only does a tourist taxi have to buy a permit to cross the state line, the driver has to go to a booth and pay a ransom in cash, an extortion fee with no receipt, to avoid harassment and delay and that explains why the system encourages drivers to park and come into a shed. The last time we got stuck there and endured this was not some random day but when the RTO was inspecting the check point. So much for official oversight. Rumor has it that everyone from the constable to the ministers has a share in the extortion monies collected. All we know is that our driver caughed up a 100 rupee bill with no receipt given. Everyone complains but complies as though it is a God ordained ritual and rule to follow.
Look at the long lines of trucks with all kinds of industry and retail material and find out about the typical delays suffered by them at the check point which is measured frequently in days and not even in hours, and ask yourself what is the impact of all this on the productivity and economy of both Kerala and Tamilnadu. It is fair to surmise that what we see here is a microcospic example of what goes on across the country. Will some university economists and departments of economics study the economic impact of this and similar problems and suggest remedies instead of writing papers getting lost in mere words? So also for the so called think tanks.
Whichever way you cut it, Kerala and any other place in India that is similar, needs to clean up its act if it is to progress and make life better for its own citizens. Please pass this blog to someone if you agree and take steps to pressure the governments to act.
This is written on January 22, 2015. I note this specially because nothing will please me more than to have to write someday that my blog of this day has become irrelevant since matters have improved significantly.
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya !
which is one of the benign ones I shot and can show since most others came out too shaky from all the last minute coliison avoidance efforts of our driver.
Indeed, even when two lanes are available in each direction, it is common for vehicles to use one in the wrong direction to gain speed, and sometimes they do this right under the nose of police officers who stand and watch. See the video clip
An Australian friend of mine once described road travel in India as a macabre game of chicken, and the ones in Kerala are versions meant for the champion dare devils only. Are there any studies on the rate of traffic accidents and those resulting in serious injury and deaths in Kerala and those especially related to careless overtaking ? Why can't authorities post clear warnings of traffic reroutes repeating them periodically as reminders, make the affected sections no-passing zones, and above all enforce the rules strictly? Aren't these a matter of common sense or a part of their duty?
In the least, authorities can stop contributing and adding to the problem. Once again, the Vazhayar check point along the Coimbatore Palakkad route is a worthy example. Many vehicles including trucks are stopped here by authorities right on the roadway causing tremendous headaches and delays for all. Tourist taxis and commercial vehicles are required to buy an interstate permit but do this at the check point shed leaving the vehicle on the roadway adding to the clutter; why can't this be done online and receipts simply collected or checked at a toll booth on a pass through basis? Not only does a tourist taxi have to buy a permit to cross the state line, the driver has to go to a booth and pay a ransom in cash, an extortion fee with no receipt, to avoid harassment and delay and that explains why the system encourages drivers to park and come into a shed. The last time we got stuck there and endured this was not some random day but when the RTO was inspecting the check point. So much for official oversight. Rumor has it that everyone from the constable to the ministers has a share in the extortion monies collected. All we know is that our driver caughed up a 100 rupee bill with no receipt given. Everyone complains but complies as though it is a God ordained ritual and rule to follow.
Look at the long lines of trucks with all kinds of industry and retail material and find out about the typical delays suffered by them at the check point which is measured frequently in days and not even in hours, and ask yourself what is the impact of all this on the productivity and economy of both Kerala and Tamilnadu. It is fair to surmise that what we see here is a microcospic example of what goes on across the country. Will some university economists and departments of economics study the economic impact of this and similar problems and suggest remedies instead of writing papers getting lost in mere words? So also for the so called think tanks.
Whichever way you cut it, Kerala and any other place in India that is similar, needs to clean up its act if it is to progress and make life better for its own citizens. Please pass this blog to someone if you agree and take steps to pressure the governments to act.
This is written on January 22, 2015. I note this specially because nothing will please me more than to have to write someday that my blog of this day has become irrelevant since matters have improved significantly.
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya !
Kerala is a perfect symphony of ever-green forests, paddy fields, coconut palms and plantations. With wonderful tourist places such as Kollam, Chembra Peak, Wayanad, and Kabin, Kerala tourism is a sheer delight for travellers and explorers.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely no denying of that. As a Kerala born, I am proud of that state in many ways. That was also a motivation for my writing the blog.
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