“Corruption kills” (April 24) should serve as an eye-opener to all concerned. The statistics provided on fatal road accidents in India are rather frightening.
As pointed out by the writer, mal-governance and corruption are responsible for allowing unqualified drivers. Unfit vehicles have made road travel a nightmarish and life-threatening affair.
Improved public transport will help take a significant number of private vehicles off the road leading to reduction of vehicle pressure on the roads.
A good number of people drive in a desperate fashion. Idioms such as “Speed thrills but kills” should serve as deterrents to motorists. The ABC of safe driving is “Always Be Careful”.
They should also remember not to mix drinking and driving, and not use cell phones while riding/driving. Organs can be replaced but not life. Let us help each other to reach home safely.
CG Kuriakose
Kothamangalam, Kerala
Criminal negligence
Thank you for highlighting the careless and irresponsible manner in which the authorities are dealing with road accidents.
Despite the increase in number of vehicles in our country over the last decade, there has not been a corresponding improvement in the road infrastructure to cope with this influx.
Compounding this is the lackadaisical approach of the authorities in enforcing traffic rules and dealing with violators. The whole system of issuing driving licencees in our country is corrupt.
Poor road infrastructure, corruption, and lack of deterrents and measures for enforcing road safety rules have made our country home to 15 per cent of the road accidents in the world, even as it has only 1 per cent of total vehicle population. It is time the government wakes up to this issue. Else our roads will soon turn into death-traps.
NR Bahuleyan
Thrissur, Kerala
Controversial mail
This refers to the news item: College principal in trouble over email to students(April 24). E-mail politics should not be played by heads of reputed institutions.
The alleged 600 words message on the development debate against the backdrop of the elections, put up on the St Xavier’s college website, should be viewed seriously by the regulating body, University Grants Commission (UGC).
College web sites should be restricted to sending messages about college-based activities and reaching out to its students. Dabbling with politics – leave alone indirectly campaigning for some party or showing another in poor light -- is nothing short of unethical.
The temple of learning should be confined to imparting education.
Having said that, it is left to the student community to ignore campaigns and vote for the party of their choice.
HP Murali
Bangalore
Transport reforms
The suggestion of the National Transport Development Policy Development Committee chaired by Rakesh Mohan to bring all departments of transport including the Railways under one ministry is a big and urgently needed reform (April 24).
This needs good planning and execution besides a strong political will. Several regulatory bodies of each transport sector create many problems — political, administrative and otherwise.
In a country where we have a separate Railway budget, it is even more difficult. But, as your editorial says, “let’s get started”, and gain immense benefits from such a new system.
A Jacob Sahayam
Thiruvananthapuram
Water resources
This pertains to “Southwest monsoon may be less than normal” (April 25). The new Government has to tackle this impending crisis on a war footing. All States should be encouraged to link rivers, conserve water resources, increase drip irrigation and rain-water harvesting, and manage water better in the rural and urban areas. This adverse situation should be manipulated to India’s advantage in the long run.
Vivekanandan K
Online
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