The streets are being smartened up for the grand welcome of G20 delegates with the first meeting scheduled on April 17. The government has ensured that all the Casino advertisements and hoardings across the roads are kept away from the eyes of delegates. There are plants being grown along the roads and watered also rumblers along the route of the delegates have been wiped off so that they have a smooth ride.
It is interesting that such a lot has been cleared and roads have been smoother, but the greenery aspect is baffling. Planting trees at the eleventh hour will only expose the fact that the State was napping on that aspect. The plants, despite the tanker that is watering them, are withering in the summer heat.
Secondly, if rumblers are a nuisance for the VIP, what makes them a necessity for the common citizens? The rumblers and massive speed-breakers that sometimes have no markings to caution motorists make driving on roads difficult at times. But who cares for the comforts of the everyday traveller? There may be Rs 300 crore spent on the makeover ahead of G20, but the State would ultimately heave a sigh of relief because of infrastructure upgrade and repair. That’s the big positive for Goa out of the G20.
