It was very hard and painful to see the photo of a poor taxi driver crushed in the Delhi Airport canopy collapse. And without facts, I won’t speculate on whose fault it was, and how far up the responsibility should go.
But one thing I will tell you — if a major VIP were to be passing over a bridge, or stepping on a stage, a senior government engineer would have to certify its structural safety before the program was approved.
Occasionally, even the dangerously overhanging branches of trees are cut on a VIP route — that is how much care is taken.
Take any of the bridges that have collapsed — would they have been approved for a VIP movement? No chance. And it is not about this government or that government — these safety precautions have always been taken.
Yes, VIPs need protection. But the disparity between a common man and a VIP can’t be so much.
Let us design our civil structures with the same rigour and care we show for our VIPs. Ideally, these structures should be so safe that they don’t require special safety certifications for VIPs. I don’t know how to implement it practically but that should be the spirit.
Everybody’s life should be treated as precious — be it construction workers, taxi drivers, soldiers, or VIPs.
Nobody’s life is less worthy — just ask their families.
– Rajan