CITIZEN ANJALI F
Fatorda
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A very silly and dangerous installation at the Shree Damodar Circle near Ravindra Bhavan, Fatorda, is a disaster waiting to happen. Every night, post 1.30 am, the coloured lights that circle the golden bell installed at this Traffic Circle have begun to emit some kind of artificial fog – the kind they use in horror movies – which envelops the entire lane. Driving through the Circle towards the stadium, one is completely blinded for a few seconds, exactly at the turning – the smoke is so thick and opaque in the centre, that you cannot see the side of the pavement or the circle and it causes you to stop abruptly and slow down.
I was shocked at the recklessness and the unnecessary gimmicky installation at a traffic junction – and parked safely ahead and walked back to click a photograph. I walked into the smoke, took a few pictures on my phone, and beat a hasty retreat as the smoke was so thick, it was suffocating. As I drove away in my car, I began feeling breathless and light-headed, and had to stop and throw up my dinner on the side of the road. It was a terrible feeling, worries me that whoever incharge of the “beautification” of this circle did not even stop to think or check if they are pumping chemical smoke into the air, and if the fog makes visibility so poor at the turning. All that is required of a traffic circle is that it is well lit, well maintained and well-designed for the smooth movement of vehicles. We do not require these gimmicks that cause more harm than good.
