Bittoo: Bapu…
Bapu: Yes Bittoo.
Bittoo: Aren’t we Belagaviates lucky to have our city selected to be developed into a Smart City.
Bapu: O’course Bittoo. We have to be thankful to both Belagavi City Corporation officials, who under the able guidance of elected representatives, experts and members of the public made out a highly commendable report to eventually win the competition by securing a place in the first list of 20 cities.
Bittoo: Now, it is 30 long months since then Bapu. But, except for widening of some major roads and fancy street lights, the condition of roads, drainage lines, etc. are yet to get a proper facelift befitting a smart city as has been visualized.
Bapu: Hummmmm…
Bittoo: Most of the problems are due to negligence and who-cares attitude towards the proper maintenance of roads and streets, drainage lines, open spaces, and parks, where the public don’t stand out an exception on civic sense?
Bapu: You are not telling anything new, all are aware of it.
Bittoo: And Bapu!
Bapu: Carry on Bittoo.
Bapu: Under the given state of affairs in the city, which place our city will secure if there’s a competition for bad maintenance of civic infrastructure Bapu?
Bapu: I don’t know Bittoo.
This is a citizen-centric new column, wherein the author(Bitto) is an ordinary, politically unaffiliated common man of the city who in his/her inimitable approach takes up various issues with the Bapu’s soul! Apparently, the interaction between them portrays ironies of sorts encountered by the common man and others in the city in a lighter vein. The author’s name will not be disclosed to the readers as he/she represents the common man of the society. This column aims at creating awareness and sensitising cross sections of our city on various issues of public concern only but in a lighter vein without holding any contempt against any institution or individual.