Why waste taxpayers’ money on useless infra!

Representation pic

A compact report about the problems dogging Sion skywalk, from less lighting, to becoming a spot for anti-social elements only reinforces what this paper has been highlighting regularly. Several skywalks are a perennial problem in the city, problems about them being dark, isolated, and becoming lairs for anti-social elements.

This paper has in fact dedicatedly followed the Nana Chowk skywalk matter. This skywalk is near Grant Road station. A defunct escalator makes one arm useless and is a real problem for a building adjacent to that. This though has been stated in reports and is not the focus of this edit.

The focus is a reaction that has hit the spot: we make infrastructure but many times it is off the mark or there is simply no maintenance at all , making all that time, money and effort useless.

First, when possible, involve the community, at least some representatives when earmarking a specific spot/site for any kind of infrastructure. Feasibility and practical use has to be checked. It should serve the purpose for which it has been made.

The skywalk arm for instance has not been in use for years and years, a steely, silent testament to myopic planning.

Then, infrastructure has to be maintained at the same level and quality that it has been made. Our numbers mean considerable wear ‘n' tear on facilities. This is not an excuse to see infra falling into disrepair and becoming dangerous to the point that it becomes defunct. We have such examples across the city where structures or amenities have gone to seed. Make every public taxpayer's money count.

Make this a citizen's city.