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By Rajkamal Rao
Go back to Comparing Life US v. India
US politicians are fond of complaining that America’s public infrastructure is crumbling and is in dire need of investments. While this is statistically true, any migrant Indian family is quickly enamored by the incredible infrastructure that the US has built over the years and continues to maintain. Public highways, bridges, streets, transit systems in major US cities, tourist sites such as America’s national parks, hospitals and schools are vastly superior to anything they have experienced growing up in India. Families marvel at the incredible US Interstate Highway System that allows a person to drive from Boston to Seattle or Minneapolis to Houston without encountering a single traffic light. Or they are impressed by clean public streets in residential neighborhoods and decent sidewalks to indulge in the simple pleasure of walking. And because all of these are public assets, simply being in the US entitles one to them and like other luxuries previously discussed are extremely difficult to give up.
India’s public infrastructure at least in the cities, in contrast, is decidedly third-world. Roads are dug up and left unattended for months - to either attend to repairs or to improve existing infrastructure - further distressing already overburdened streets. Traffic warning signs to indicate hazards ahead are rare and when present, are inadequately lit. A common road hazard occurs when a truck breaks down on the road; the driver places rocks by the wheels in addition to his parking brakes to arrest wheel movement while the truck is repaired; when repaired, he drives off leaving behind those rocks on the road.
Traffic speeds in major cities during rush hour average 10-15 kms an hour. For some cities, there is no rush hour any more - the entire day is one long rush hour. Many Indians endure commutes of up to 2 hours each way for each day they work. Parking is a major issue in most Indian cities but hundreds of new cars are issued operating permits, each day, to ply their streets. Shown here is Bangalore traffic on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
India’s public infrastructure connecting major cities has improved dramatically in the last ten years. Limited access highways - all toll roads - have astronomically reduced drive times and accidents. Here is a picture of the Bangalore - Bombay toll road.
International airports in the major Indian cities compare now with the best in the world with New Delhi’s leading the pack. Public transport systems - especially buses - are cheap and efficient. Many cities now offer layered comforts in bus transportation. If you want to only travel in air conditioned Volvo buses to your destination, this is now an option available in most major cities.
Go back to Comparing Life US v. India
US politicians are fond of complaining that America’s public infrastructure is crumbling and is in dire need of investments. While this is statistically true, any migrant Indian family is quickly enamored by the incredible infrastructure that the US has built over the years and continues to maintain. Public highways, bridges, streets, transit systems in major US cities, tourist sites such as America’s national parks, hospitals and schools are vastly superior to anything they have experienced growing up in India. Families marvel at the incredible US Interstate Highway System that allows a person to drive from Boston to Seattle or Minneapolis to Houston without encountering a single traffic light. Or they are impressed by clean public streets in residential neighborhoods and decent sidewalks to indulge in the simple pleasure of walking. And because all of these are public assets, simply being in the US entitles one to them and like other luxuries previously discussed are extremely difficult to give up.
India’s public infrastructure at least in the cities, in contrast, is decidedly third-world. Roads are dug up and left unattended for months - to either attend to repairs or to improve existing infrastructure - further distressing already overburdened streets. Traffic warning signs to indicate hazards ahead are rare and when present, are inadequately lit. A common road hazard occurs when a truck breaks down on the road; the driver places rocks by the wheels in addition to his parking brakes to arrest wheel movement while the truck is repaired; when repaired, he drives off leaving behind those rocks on the road.
Traffic speeds in major cities during rush hour average 10-15 kms an hour. For some cities, there is no rush hour any more - the entire day is one long rush hour. Many Indians endure commutes of up to 2 hours each way for each day they work. Parking is a major issue in most Indian cities but hundreds of new cars are issued operating permits, each day, to ply their streets. Shown here is Bangalore traffic on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
International airports in the major Indian cities compare now with the best in the world with New Delhi’s leading the pack. Public transport systems - especially buses - are cheap and efficient. Many cities now offer layered comforts in bus transportation. If you want to only travel in air conditioned Volvo buses to your destination, this is now an option available in most major cities.
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