Residing in Singapore for more than a decade, whenever I come across any news or articles on Udaipur it raises curiosity and a sense of belongingness. Udaipur has been in the news for all the good reasons specifically as tourist place, destination weddings and shooting for Bollywood movies.  I always feel proud in bragging about my roots from this city. I visit Udaipur at least once in a year and feel nostalgic passing through lanes, markets and various iconic land marks across the city. I had the same perception this time also before landing at Udaipur.

Always our expectation is to see improvements ,advancement and better infrastructure in the city but what I saw this time in Udaipur is exactly opposite. First thing that a person notices while entering a city is its Road and Traffic, these are the windows to gauge the infrastructure status of a city. In the last few months, roads across Udaipur city are dug up in the name of smart city project for laying sewer pipeline; not a single road is left without being dug up. If you ask any resident about plans for utilising these pipeline, no one has any clue on the purpose, the process to connect these pipelines to their houses.  I think administration is doing this in order to get marks for smart city ranking without any planning for the actual utilisation and benefit.

Also looking at the mess created in this process,I doubt that any engineering mind or logic is applied for laying the pipeline and re-layering the dug up roads. It would be a miracle if these pipelines can be used or will function properly. One need not buy an adventure ride ticket in a theme park, just drive through Udaipur roads and you will get the fun for free. And the other thing that catches your attention is the state of traffic and parking. Every one is trying to get ahead of others as if the world is coming to an end. There is no word as “traffic rules” in their dictionary. I always fail to understand that why everybody is in so much hurry while driving, as if they are trying to get a pole position in Formula 1 competition. People will overtake from all possible directions. There is absolutely no respect for pedestrians or fellow drivers. Literally, vehicles are parked anywhere and everywhere. No one wants to walk few metres, every body needs parking in front of their destination place. People are ready for arguments and fights and boast their power and connections for not paying parking fee.

City administration has also failed in providing parking spaces, lane and turn marking on roads , dividers , signboards and 24 hrs traffic lights. Solution is very simple if every body follows and drive to the rule and the authorities ensure free and fair enforcement.

It pains to see such a dire state of my city and just wondering the conditions of other cities, as Udaipur is considered as one of the top ranking smart cities. Is this the smart city we all aspired for ? Getting few check box ticked and ranking on paper will not make smart city, instead the real experience on the ground will judge the smartness of the city.