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Resentment against hike in bus fare mounting in Bhopal

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NK SINGH Though a Govt. directive has frustrated the earlier efforts of the MPSRTC to increase the city bus fares by as much as 300 per cent, the public resent even the 25 per cent hike. It is "totally unjust, uncalled for and arbitrary", this is the consensus that has emerged from an opinion conducted by "Commoner" among a cross-section of politicians, public men, trade union leaders, and last but not least, the common bus travelling public. However, a section of the people held, that an average passenger would not grudge a slight pinche in his pocket provided the MPSRTC toned up its services. But far from being satisfactory, the MPSRTC-run city bus service in the capital is an endless tale of woe. Hours of long waiting, over-crowding people clinging to window panes frequent breakdowns, age-old fleet of buses, unimaginative routes and the attitude of passengers one can be patient only when he is sure to get into the next bus are some of the ills plaguing the city b...
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Saving the Upper Lake

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NK SINGH

Babulal Gaur has emerged as a passionate saviour of his beloved Bhopal’s Upper Lake. The Urban Administration and Development Minister has declared in unambiguous terms that he was against any kind of construction on the periphery of the Lake.

The draft Development Plan for Bhopal, released recently, has proposed constructions in several areas around the Lake. Under the plan green belt and no-construction zones have been replaced not only by low-density habitation but also full-fledged residential areas and commercial zones.

Gaur is among the few ministers who feel the pulse of Bhopal. He has also threatened to roll on his famous bulldozer to remove all encroachments around the Lake.

Apparently, he could sense the indignation of the citizens, whom he had invited earlier this week to discuss the status of the lakes in the city.

It was not only the citizens who were alarmed about constructions around the lakes. Even the official presentation made by the Urban Development Department at the meeting underlined the Government’s concern on the subject.

Raghav Chandra, Principal Secretary of the department, made a beautiful presentation at that meeting. It included some photographs of the two lakes.

The photographers capture in vivid details the plight of the water bodies; how construction has killed the Lower Lake and how it is threatening to do the same to the Upper Lake now.

We bring to you today, on the last page of Live Bhopal, these photographs. 

Published in Hindustan Times of  11th September, 2009

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