Better Pune, Better India

Improving Pune's infrastructure and social life

2007-05-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

We are all aware of the the plight of Pune - bad roads, pollution, congestion, lack of footpaths, pathetic public transport, chaotic traffic. A much improved public transport would serve citizens of Pune well and reduce much of the above mentioned difficulties.

I request your opinion on the SB Road Bus Priority Proposal I have submitted to the PMC, submitted to PMC in Dec 08.

To collect views of people, I have created a web survey form. You may offer initial views by visiting this form here. This survey has only 4 Yes/No questions and a free text box for your comments / suggestions and should take only a minute of your time. However, before filling out the, please make yourself acquanited with the SB Road Bus Priority Scheme Proposal from the two part documentation below -

Part One of the proposal is available here - (2MB)
Part Two (FAQ format) is available here - (1MB)

In summary, the SB road reportedly carries up to 58000 people per hour during peak time. Yet, this road is served by a fleet of 15 buses and 5 routes at a frequency of 1 bus every 46 minutes, worse if we take in to account the two trips per day made by the 6th bus route.SB road connects Aundh/Baner/Pashan with Paud/Kothrud/Deccan and many regions south of Karve road - none of these come anywhere close to proposed BRTS corridors. In fact BRTS corridors alone equate to just 10% of Pune's road length!! This proposal demonstrates that bus priority can be implemented on narrowest of roads and with route and frequency rationalisation, majority of Pune can be served very well with just 1000 buses.

Pune and the regions connected by SB road need better bus based public transport first and not the elevated road over SB road or indeed the short tunnels from Paud and Pashan to SB road. These measures will most certainly create another Nal Stop on SB Road by bringing far too much traffic from different directions on to SB road.

SB road, in its current state, despite carrying 58k people per hour is never congested or has no history of traffic jams. This is because there is only one junction of any significance on the entire road (Vetal Baba Chowk which brings small amount of traffic from Model Colony end, much of this areas traffic is shared with University road). Thus, the SB road acts almost like a via duct or an elevated road already. If it experiences any congestion, it is only at the University road end where the badly planned and executed flyover has rendered all exit / entry connections with SB road significantly narrowed.

As ICC Towers, residential blocks and 5 star hotels come up on SB road, many will be interested in visiting these facilitiess and an elevated road over SB road will only ensure that there is perpetual traffic congestion and jams under the much narrow roads under the elevated roads - this is experienced already around E-Square and those who have visited Mumbai would have experienced this in Parel area where an empty flyover connects to Mahalaxmi race course while narrow roads under the belly of the flyover are jammed as vehicles attempt to make way to the residential tower blocks and super markets built on adjacent mill land.

So please, do go through the above links and make sure to give 2 minutes of your time filling out the survey

Part one covers in more detail and is 31 pages long:

Current state of SB Road – demonstrates sub-optimal use of available road space along side blatant abuse of an arterial road for parking Proposal – SB road bus priority scheme
Extension of the scheme to BMCC, Bhandarkar and Prabhat roads as well as FC and JM roads.
Law College, Paud phata and Sus-Pashan roads get a mention as well in the grand scheme of things.
Route / frequency Rationalisation and overall mapping of North-Western Pune.
Conclusions & acknowledgements
The FAQ / Part Two also has several additional details and is 9 pages long.

My best wishes to you and your family for the new year. Lets continue our resolve to ensure the administration provides the right facilities rather than spend public money on irrational flyovers, elevated roads and tunnels. Please feel free to forward / share the above with all you can.

CMP: Critique of Pune's Comprehensive Mobility Plan

In Aug-Sept 08, the Pune Municipal Corporation part published the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the city. The Plan was produced by IL&FS and presented by the Commissioner recently - Click Here to see the slide show that proposes to convert Pune in to a mega cement mixing bowl with elevated roads, flyovers, bridges, road over river, Metro, subways......

You can read my response to this plan which is full of contradictions by clicking here.

Rationalising Bus Routes and Frequencies in Pune: Pune can be served very well by 1000 odd travel worthy buses. Sadly this cannot happen due to the illogical and hap-hazard route planning in Pune. Effectively we have 209 routes with 1000+ buses offering a frequency of 1 bus every 57 minutes!! I have demonstrated the fallacy in the first of the two links below - Link 1 and Link 2. The second link actually shows the pathos by way of schematic representation of 30 of 209 bus routes in Pune followed by a reformed route map which offers excellent frequency without compromising on areas covered by reducing number of routes to nine.

In recent past I have followed up on the work on footpaths on SB Road. The original corresponednce leading to initiation of the work is detailed below the links to recent correspondence. Those intrested in getting hold of attachments sent to PMC with my recent communication with PMC may write to me directly.

Correspondence dated Dec 1 07

Correspondence dated Dec 2 07

Correspondence dated Dec 10 07

Previous communications:

On Why PMC needs a Whole Systems Approach: This letter emphasises the need for PMC to become protocol driven and professional in its work ethos. The city cannot affoard to continue in its habits of ad-hoc, ill-planned and haphazard ways. Click Here to download this letter.

Pune's fate will be determined by its citizens: I also wrote to the Commissioner about the general lack of footpaths. In fact the city is becoming pedestrian un-friendly. I complained in writing (with over 100 pictures) about the lack of footpaths on S B Marg. I was initially told by a sub-officer that footpaths with cycle tracks are planned and will be in place once a flyover spanning the entire length of S B Road was built (a 40 crore project). But PMC's track record for such projects is poor. Should pedestrians be made to wait 4 years for a flyover before footpaths are considered? Not deterred by this fobbing off, I wrote again, this time resulting in work order being issued for footpath work to begin on SB road from Sept 07. Click Here to download this correspondence.

I hope each one of you finds this encouraging and pick up every cause you can in your locality and proactively participate in shaping Pune.

Update on Public Transport Petition:
In May 06, a campaign an Online Campaign was started to demand better Public Transport in Pune by improving the Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) service.

The campaign is supported by over 1400 Punekars. Although Dr Uday Kulkarni made many efforts to seek an appointment to meet him in person, the commissioner (Dr Kareer) failed to provide a time. On 30 Nov 06 the petition was handed over to PMC Commissioner's Office. Despite this, when the commissioner failed to respond, I wrote another mail, this time questioning if 1390 Punekars can expect a response or not? This led to the commissioner responding inadequately, needing me to write to him again. The entire correspondence is available as a download.

The Petition was submitted with the article of Pune Caught in a Whirlpool and a CD titled Bus Priority: The way Ahead, Published by the Department of Transport, UK. A summary of the contents of the CD on Bus Priority is available as a download.

The resource pack outlines several measures that may improve bus priority. Unfortunately PMC remains stuck with spending money on only one option i.e. BRTS.

While BRTS is an excellent idea, it cannot and should not be considered as appropriate for any and every city. My thoughts are outlined in a short analysis: Is BRTS right for Pune?

Further to the above, I would also like to point you to a road layout proposal I have submitted to the Pune Municipal Commissioner, demonstrating how a 80 feet wide Senapati Bapat Road can be used optimally to enhance bus priority using the principles of bus lanes used in London, UK. Click Here for the proposal.

Pune's Traffic Problems: Can we solve them?

The pathogenesis of the traffic problems in our cities has many reasons. Lack of training, knowledge and awareness along with disrespect for other road users is just as important as failings of the authorities. I have made series of 17 video's available to help make it possible to create a cultural change in our road habits.

To watch these videos visit http://driving-india.blogspot.com/

The first video covering the concept of Blind spots is available below:

Click Here to watch 16 other videos

Current Online Campaigns for Better Pune

2007-05-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Improve Public Transport in Pune
Join Over 1400 Pune citizens by following 3 simple steps -

Visit the Campaign page: http://www.gopetition.com/online/8517.html
Read the petition and Click Sign at the Bottom of the Page
Finally enter your details on the form at the bottom of the page and click sign.

To understand why this campaign is important, read the article 'Pune Caught in a Whirlpool - Can a Modern Public Transport System Rescue it'

Campaign 2: Say No to Balbharati-Paud Bypass
Support this campiagn by visiting http://www.gopetition.com/online/8763.html

This Online Campaign has been started by Dr Uday Kulkarni, for more details visit http://www.rescuepune.blogspot.com/ or download an edited version here

NGOs / Groups in Pune

2007-05-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Parisar is an independent citizens' group working for Environmental awareness, education and action: www.parisar.org

Pune Transportation and Traffic Forum (PTTF) - www.pttf.net

Dr Uday Kulkarni's Blog on Stop Balbharati-Paud Bypass http://www.rescuepune.blogspot.com/

Nagrik Chetna Manch: http://www.nagrikchetna.org/

Better Roads: a group dedicetd and active in improving the quality of roads in Pune. To Join them visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BetterRoads/join

Articles on Pune, India

2007-05-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

Pune Caught in a Whirlpool - Can a Modern Public Transport System Rescue it

Getting your Basics Right - First Footpath, Then Roads

100th Monkey Syndrome / Critical Mass Theory

Why I Oppose the Balbharati - Paud Bypass

Why Metro (underground rail) is a bad idea for Pune

Why we must Oppose the Sky Bus in Pune

Click Here to download Major General Jatar's detailed critique of the Sky Bus System

Ethics and City Planning

If Martin Luther King was a Puneite - How would his 'I Have a Dream Speech' be?

If Martin Luther King was a Puneite

2007-05-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

If Martin Luther King was a Puneite, How would his 'I have a Dream' Speech be?

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of Pune. Freedom from the agony caused pot-holed roads. Freedom from the misery caused lack of footpaths. Freedom from congestion, pollution and the rattling PMT bus that never works.

Five decades ago, a great Indian (Ambedkar), in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Indian Constitution. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Indians who until 1947 were en-slaved who in the flames of withering injustice (from British). It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But 50 years later, the Puneite is still is not free. The Puneite is still sadly crippled by the manacles of bureaucracy and the chains of selfish politicians. 50 years later, the Puneite lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. 50 years later the Puneite is still languishing in the corners of his city and finds himself an exile in his own land (waiting for the PMT to
arrive). So we have come together today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every Puneite was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The right to live cross the roads safely, the right to safe public transport and the right to living in dignity.

It is obvious today that PMC has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens are concerned. Instead of honoring this obligation, PMC has given the Puneite a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are innsufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this city. So we have come to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security to live in dignity. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind PMC of the fierce urgency of now.

This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism (through projects such as Sky Bus). Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of degradation to the sunlit path of justice. Now is the time to lift our city from the quick sands of injustice to the solid rock of high quality of life. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the PMC to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Puneite's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating freedom from indignity. 2006 is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Puneite needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the PMC returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in Pune until the Puneite is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of Pune until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom from indignity by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy (intellectual) which has engulfed the Pune community must not lead us to distrust of all civic officials & politicians, as their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We (nor they) can walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Puneite is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of social brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel (on pot-holed roads), cannot gain lodging in the comfort of good roads, well paved footpaths and good public transport system in the city. We can never be satisfied as long as a Puneite cannot get his voice heard and a Puneite believes he has nothing for which to vote (due to resentment that politicians will not do anything anyway). No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the Pune dream.

I have a dream that one day Pune will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men live in dignity."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Parvati the sons of this city will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood and look at their city fondly.

I have a dream that one day the rest of Maharashtra, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice (after Pune sets an example).

I have a dream today.

This is our hope। This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our city into a beautiful symphony. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if Pune is to be a great city this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of Parvati. Let freedom ring from the Mula-Mutha.

Let freedom ring.

And when this happens, we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every lane of the city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of Pune's children, will be able to join hands and sing, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

=========

Paraphrased by Adhiraj Joglekar

Ethics and City Planning

2007-05-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

I was on the bus reading a paper. The headline said '$ 500 billion + was spent by the world last year on arms in contrast to $ 32 billion on world aid for eradicating hunger'.

I wondered if situation in Indian cities is any different? 35 Crores for a by-pass (BB_PP) but not 200 buses the same money can buy. The talk of spending 3500 crores on Sky Bus (when 350 can get you a fleet of 2000 buses with all the required infrastructure) or Metro (3-5 times the cost of Sky Bus).

Working in NHS, a Public Health service in UK, we have to deal ethics at 1:1 level with patients. But there is a constant debate on who should get what treatment and why. Should an alcoholic of 20 years with 10 failed rehab attempts get a liver transplant at the cost of tax payers money, should breast augmentation be offered free on NHS or should this money be spent on basic health provision, making it better and easier in access to all.

The Ethical Principles at conflict and hence influencing our decisions are as under -

Need alone - Pune deserves better, what ever the cost
Maximising (Utilitarian) principles - popular among economists, since they are broadly utilitarian in focus i.e. maximise aggregate population benefit. The focus is on the consequences of any action taken (not the action). Thus if maximum population will benifit from 'x' we will do it whatever it takes (even slavery can be justified this way).
Egalitarian principles - the basis of most democracies - focus is on removing inequality. Thus, Pune would not be allowed to spend massive amounts on projects such as Sky Bus or Metro Rail - as other areas such as health, education, etc suffer (in the context of India it is the 80% living on less than a 1$ a day that pay the price for money spent elsewhere). This vital principle should be kept in mind to decide on the most cost-effective ways of solving infrastructural problems.

Our leaders and civic officials remain blind to most obvious problems, but as citizens, we need to ensure that the ethics and values are not forgotten in the decision making process. In the context of Pune, focus should first be on getting a bus based public transport (even the fancy Bus rapid Transit System demands huge expenses and may not appropriate on all roads).

Adhiraj Joglekar

Why we must Oppose the Sky Bus in Pune

2007-05-12T13:21:00.001-07:00

The PMC spent 30 lacs on a feasibility study of the Sky Metro in Pune. One needs to ask why this study was commissioned without keeping the following in mind –

1. The cost of building the Sky Bus Metro is Rs. 50 Crores per kilometre.
2. Pune population travels in all directions. Unlike Mumbai, Pune does not have well established corridors such as the Western or Central railways.

The total cost of Sky Bus in Pune is 3960.3 crores.

Agriculture College to Chinchwad (15km) = 681 Crores
Sambhaji Bridge to Warje (9.4 km) = 423 Crores
Sambhaji Bridge to Hadapsar (11.7km) = 535.6 Crores
Wakdewadi to Lonikand (24km) = 1085.5 Crores
Chaphekar Memorial, Chinchwad to Agriculture College (17.2km) = 775.3 Crores
Pataleshwar Temple to Katraj (10.1km) = 459.9 Crores

This is astonishing given that Pune Municipal Corporations Budget for 2004-05 was 951 Crores.

In contrast Pune Traffic and Transportation Forum have suggested that PMT should be buying about 1000 buses over the next 2-3 years. PMT also needs additional depots. Right now buses are parked on the streets and lead to thefts of parts. Also buses cannot be washed or maintained under current inadequate circumstances. PMT have land for 6 depots but need to acquire land for an additional 6 depots. The proposal will cost only 270 Crores as described below –

20 lacs/bus (new low floor) = 200 Crores for1000 buses.

4 Crores/depot = 50 Crores for depots.

20 Crores = upgrades and a much needed training centre.

The above facts demonstrate why grandiose projects like the Sky Metro (an elevated rail network) proposed for Pune will be an absolute waste of tax-payers money.

For 10th of the cost of proposed sky bus we could get a modern state of the art bus based public transport system.

We should be asking the PMC why on earth they are considering the sky-bus.

Dr Joglekar

Why Metro (underground rail) is a bad idea for Pune

2007-05-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

While we continue efforts to get people and officials to see different on the Balbharati-Paud bypass, we may want to debate on whether Metro or Sky Bus or BRT is better for Pune. The points to ponder over are (and learn from others) -

The costs as the links below tell us of a Metro is exorbitant $ 5 billion for a distance of 146km (of which only 32 km are underground). That's almost 5 times the cost of Sky bus (which we all seem against).

It will take 4 years to do the job (if all goes to plan) on phase one, second phase by 2016 and third phase by 2021

How long will it help Mumbai, the population of which grows daily by up to 3000 migrants per day.

Planning and getting a Metro comissioned takes time. Mumbai has hoped for a Metro from the time I was a toddler (going back 30 years). By the time Pune gets a nod, we may not be alive!
And if we (Pune) do go ahead with a Metro, should we use broad gauge or standard gauge, they need 50-80 units of electricity per KM against the 10 units per KM of a usual goods train. Have we (Pune region got enough power to manage this?)

Will it be a private enterprise or a public service heavily subsidised (and hence probably a loss making enterprise)? Out of 135 Metro corporations in the world, only 4 are making operational profits. And to make it a profit making venture, ticket costs will go up. If travelling on my 2 wheeler is cheaper than or equal to cost a PMT ticket, why will I spend more on the Metro ticket?

The Europen countries do not need airconditioning on Metros. In UK for example 11 of 12 months tempratures are below 20 degrees. But in one week of heat wave the temp is about 42-44 degrees in the cabins (when it is 32-33 outside). Given our weather, we will need AC almost the entire year, the impact of this on climate is untold, never discussed.

Since I was on climate change, with sea levels rising, London underground is constantly under threat. Boreholes have had to be dug to overcome this. But when the ice in Greenland is gone completely, sea levels will have gone up by 6 meters (Oh! this will take a few generations, our kids grandchildren will have to deal with it).

And lets not forget, more capacity means more vehicles on road (unless the additional measures like congestion charging etc are in place).

The misconception with a bus based public transport system is that the word BRT starts cropping up. Then we have a problem as our roads do not seem wide enough for dedicated bus lanes. Forget BRT, just get 2000 buses (like the ones in Indore), manage their frequency and routes properly, manage and restrict private vehicles, perhaps we will feel the difference.
Ethically too it is improper to consider a Metro or Sky Bus. These projects will only take away funds from other areas which need greated funding. Lets not forget that 80% Indians still live without basic needs being fulfilled - Roti, Kapda aur Makan (forget about lack of healthcare and education). Sure Chidambaram announced 22% increase in health expenditure. I will be happy only if he does that every year for next 20 years. Public Health spending in India has been below 1% of GDP for 2 decades. We are ranked 170+ in comparison to rest of countries (even poorer countries spend more).

The above reminds me of the book ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNT IN KINDERGARTEN By Robert R Fulghum. Each of us is tempted (having tasted Metro's et al in the West) by Grandiose ideas, but perhaps right now we need to remember what our grand-parents told us - 'Hantrun Pahun Pai Pasra' I don't know about you, but at the present moment (most certainly in the short term), any talk of Sky bus or Metro for Pune will be futile waste of money.

Dr Adhiraj Joglekar

Refrences:

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=7397 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5100974.stm?ls http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/26/stories/2006052616840400.htmhttp://www.observerindia.com/analysis/A629.pdf

Why I Oppose Balbharati - Paud bypass

2007-05-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

18 months ago I wanted the road. But not any more bacuse of the reasons below. Any amount of new roads and flyovers will not solve the problem (see more details below). Bombay built 55 flyovers, with what result, there is still a perpetual gridlock on the roads of Mumbai.

Also the road over the hill deforests 10,000 trees. How can that be taken care off by planting 1000 saplings (as the PMC says). The trees need at least 25years to grow and mature.

Pune has not managed to finish more than 30% of work on flyovers in 2 LONG years. By the time they decide whether the Balbharati-Paud road should be over the hill or through a tunnel, commision it, find the money and eventually build it - It may 5 years before we ride on it. By then 60 Lacs additional vehicles will be added to Pune roads. What use will this by-pass be by then?

The PMC is not even able to re-surface existing roads, can we trust them to build a road through the hills or a tunnel? MSRD has withdrawn its funding...

Also look at the evidence from around the world - The experience of large cities in China shows that construction of such high capacity roads has not even improved traffic congestion levels:

Guangzhou: Has an orbital expressway and inner ring road and a large number of interchanges. The total number of vehicles is 1 million. However, the average speed on north-south and east-west main roads for 12 hrs in daytime is 18-21 km/h.12
Beijing: Has constructed two ring roads and the third ring road is in the process of completion. The city has already constructed 119 flyovers and 202 overpasses. The total number of vehicles is 1.2 million. However, the rush hour average speed on trunk roads is still 13-19 km/h.
Shanghai: The road area in Shanghai has been increased by 42% between 1991 and 1997 and 400 roads have been designated as one-way streets. The total number of vehicles is 1.3 million. The average vehicular speeds inside the inner ring road during rush hours are 16 km/h.
Shenzhen: The city has completed construction of 139 km of highways, the total number of vehicles is 250,000, but the rush hour average speed on main roads is 20 km/h.

It is probably this experience of developments in Chinese cities that prompts Wu (Ministry of Construction) and Li (China Academy of Urban Planning and Design) to comment that "In the past five years, the input to road infrastructure in the large cities has been doubled. Almost all the large city authorities believe that the situation of traffic congestion may be alleviated through road construction.…But to date, we are still short of rational study which verifies the relationship between road infrastructure and traffic volume or the ownership of motor vehicles...The traffic volume introduced with road construction may again increase vehicle emission and cause new traffic congestion, multiplying all the pollutants. So there would be no direct cause-and-effect relationship among infrastructure construction, pollution prevention and environmental protection"

Adhiraj Joglekar

100th Monkey Syndrome / Critical Mass Theory

2007-05-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

It is common for people to say "but what can we do?" or something similar. The critical mass theory explains why we need to be proactive and make the change happen quicker.

In his book The Hundredth Monkey, Ken Keyes, Jr। wrote about scientists who had been observing monkeys in the wild for thirty years. In 1952, on the island of Koshima, when there was a serious drought & famine, they provided monkeys with sweet potatoes which they had dropped in sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the potatoes but found the sand unpleasant. One day, an eighteen month old monkey washed the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught the trick to her mother and her playmates, who taught it to their mothers. As the story is told, perhaps 99 monkeys learned to wash their sweet potato between 1952 and 1958. One day the 100th monkey learned to wash the potatoes. Suddenly, almost every monkey on the island began to wash their potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this 100th monkey had somehow created a behavioral breakthrough.

But, more amazing, the scientists observed that the act of washing sweet potatoes had jumped over the sea, because the colonies of monkeys on other islands, as far as 500 miles away, began washing their sweet potatoes.

This phenomena is known as "critical mass।" When a limited number of people know something in a new way, it remains the conscious property of only those people. However, there is a point at which if only one more person tunes in to a new awareness, that new awareness is picked up by everyone.

Come join the campaign

Getting the Basics Right - First Footpaths, Then Roads

2007-05-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

India country is changing rapidly. Pune has several multiplexes, each with half a dozen movie screens, food malls, shopping plaza's etc. Tesco/Walmart like stores are opening all over. The middle-income group is ever growing and spending more than ever before. Anyone with a decent job is now on the property ladder. High-rise apartments reach the sky all-round. Pune already has digital TV- 125 channels, with Electronic Program Guide and the works.

It seems we are headed in the right direction. But I say 'it seems' as I am not convinced.

I am not certain we have got our priorities right. Grass root problems remain and are growing. Corruption in every sector, including health, is worse than ever before. There is no cultural shift, people still spit & there is filth everywhere. There is no respect for a 'padchalak' - cars, rickshaws, buses & two-wheelers, all converge on you. Clearly, they will rather kill you than be late to work; they will rather kill you than get their vehicle damaged by a pothole.

The PM, in his independence speech boasted 'x kilometers sadak banayenge' - But where are the footpaths, where are the safe crossing points, where is the lane discipline, where is the public transport (the only way we will ever become energy self-sufficient) and where are the basic infrastructures that ensure health and safety in new townships with high rise apartments surrounded by shanties?
The service industry is growing, but at a cost - our agricultural industry is receding. 2030 will bring self - sufficiency in energy (President Kalam's Vision) but we will be importing rice and dal.
Swarajya maza janma-siddha adhikar ahe, but so is self-respect and dignity. I have a right to live in a society where I can cross the road safely to buy chane-footane alongside a choice of driving to a superstore's car park.

I suppose we need a movement that brings an end to 'sab chalta hai' attitude. We need to put an end to the denial of reality around us and stop saying 'mera Bharat mahan', instead we need to make it so by way of responsible action and developing a sense of ownership.

I am hoping the Online Community in India can spread the word, start a small campaign 'First Footpaths, Then Roads' - Lets get our basic needs sorted.

Dr Joglekar Adhiraj