HOW well I remember this bridge being built, because the British made bridge next to it too narrow. Today’s paper said, it was beginning to fall off and needed extensive repairs, and I think of the many bridges, flyovers, roads and government buildings all over the country that have either fallen within a few years of them being built or are already in poor shape.
“We need to build a bridge across the river!” says the minister to his people while visiting his constituency and smiles as they clap and applaud. “How much?” asks the minister, later in his office. “Well sir it will cost you…” says the contractor. “How much?” smiles the minister. “How much?” asks the contractor. “Yes, how much?” says the minister. “Ten percent?” “Too little!” “Twenty five percent!” “You may start the work!” “How much?” asks the government engineer when the contractor does half the work and asks for payment for his bills.
“Well sir I have finished half so it comes to..” “How much?” asks the engineer. “Ten percent!” “Ten percent?” “Fifteen!” “How much?” asks the clerk in the accountancy department. “Sir, the engineer has specified the work is complete.” “How much?” “Ten percent!” “Ten percent?” “Twenty!”
“Please pass the cheque for sahib’s signature!” “How much?” asks sahib. “Ten percent!” “How much?” “Twenty-five!” And the bridge is built. “Did you make any profit?” asks the wife of the contractor as they drive for dinner in his Mercedes.
“Of course I did, what I gave in commissions I took back from the bridge! Instead of cement, sand. The bricks, half- baked. The steel, not moisture resistant. Instead of an engineer I used your brother on the site, instead of masons I used unskilled labour!” “But if the bridge collapses?”
“There will be an inquiry,” smiles the contractor, “and the man in charge of the inquiry will ask..” “How much?” grins his wife then looks at her husband curiously, “Why are we taking the long route home?” “You crazy?” asks the contractor as he passes the cars of the minister and the engineer and clerk, all taking the long route home, “You think any one of us will risk our lives on that bridge? That bridge is for the common man!”
And in another constituency, the common man claps and applauds again as a minister says, “We need a bridge across the river!” Or maybe it’s metros, bullet trains, concreting roads, highways .. you name it! And you thought it’s because of some ideology they believe in that they topple each other’s governments? Nah, it’s just to topple you into the river..!
