Koparkhairane - all dug up!

"Hum road pe itney khaddey karengey ki confuse ho jaaogey ke gaadi kahaan pe chalaayein aur chalein kahaan pe."

After digging up almost all the main roads in Koparkhairane, NMMC is all set to take up footpaths as well! Already, with all the ubad-khaabad (dug up) roads, if you travel in an open vehicle / walk for over 10 minutes, you would definitely need to take a shower to wash away all the dhool-mitti (read 'sins' of those responsible for tod-phod). Not to mention the unstoppable honking resulting from the traffic jams that gives you enough sleepless nights and dark circles that no makeup can help you hide.

And now if NMMC is planning to snatch away even our footpaths for a while, be prepared to walk on stone-studded paths. I am wondering if it was worth purchasing all my new chappals... it's peak season for the cobblers at least!

I know, speaking anything about this (call it cribbing if you wish, I care a damn) will not solve anything. But at least I feel better at heart. And this once, all the more since what I feel appears in DNA's Navi Mumbai edition:

PS -  I know some authorities may say that it is all for our own good. But all roads and footpaths at the same time??? We are not planning to call it Khadda-khairane, are we?

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Increasing auto rickshaw rates in Navi Mumbai

"I'm rich. I travel by auto rickshaws." 
- Auto rickshaw passenger to a Mercedes owner

Traveling by auto rickshaws in Navi Mumbai has always been an expensive affair. But ever since the fares increased (around 2 weeks ago), it's decreasing the weight of my wallet. Earlier the meter used to read Rs 31-33 from Koparkhairane station to Vashi station and we used to pay around 45 rupees. It really used to pinch us. After all it's just a 12 minute drive! But today it cost me 55 bucks!!! In fact, we ended up traveling by auto rickshaws for 5-6 times since yesterday and I have exhausted all the 10-rupee and 50-rupee notes in my wallet.

When I expressed my shock to the rickshaw driver today (Rs 55 for 35 on meter!) he explained me how it has even become 'tough' for them. Coz since the rates increase by Rs 1.5 or Rs 2 at various points, they have to always read the tariff card before charging the passenger. Ya right, such an effort... we toh have an easy life shelling out our hard-earned and hardly-earned money on the roads!

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Traffic jam at Palm Beach road between Vashi-Koparkhairane

The best part I loved about shifting to Navi Mumbai was absence of traffic jams. But ever since the road construction work has begun between Vashi (from Blue Diamond hotel junction) to Koparkhairane (a little before D mart), this road has very slow moving traffic. Worst, especially on weekends, there's heavy traffic jam at Palm Beach road in the evenings between Vashi-Koparkhairane. Hope things get better soon!

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