No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Friday, August 19, 2022
Afternoon Voice
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Top News
  • City News
  • Nation
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • Hollywood
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Hockey
    • Tennis
    • Football
    • Badminton
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Diary
    • Letters
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Editor’s Pick
    • Featured
    • Lifestyle
    • Different Strokes
    • Multimedia
    • Sci-Tech
    • Politics
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top News
  • City News
  • Nation
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • Hollywood
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Hockey
    • Tennis
    • Football
    • Badminton
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Diary
    • Letters
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Editor’s Pick
    • Featured
    • Lifestyle
    • Different Strokes
    • Multimedia
    • Sci-Tech
    • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Afternoon Voice
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top News
  • City News
  • Nation
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Epaper
  • More

Home > Different Strokes > New Bridge Across The River…!

New Bridge Across The River…!

robert@afternoonvoice.com' by Robert Clements
July 26, 2022
in Different Strokes
A A
0
bobs banter, bob, robert, Robert Clements

Even as I hear plans of bullet trains, highways, and coastal roads and flyovers I look at bridges built yesterday, inaugurated with much fanfare that is already crumbling, while old British ones stand the test of time, even having a laugh while they see their new unfortunate cousins collapsing under a heavy torrent or flood, for which the taxpaying citizens were told, they were made to withstand.

But as soon as the new one shows signs of wear and tear, comes an ever-eager minister to the rescue:

“We need to build another bridge across the river!” says the minister to his people while visiting his constituency, looking at the old bridge, 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 government engineer when 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 enquiry,” smiles the contractor, “and the man in charge of the enquiry 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…!

– by Robert Clements

Tags: Robert Clements
robert@afternoonvoice.com'

Robert Clements

Recommended For You

Malavika Sarukkai, AnuBandh, Bharatanatyam, Padmashri
Different Strokes

Malavika Sarukkai celebrates her Golden Jubilee at NCPA

August 1, 2022
Love Me, My People..!
Different Strokes

Ashram or Golf Course…!

July 29, 2022
Different Strokes

Mahotsav of Kathak Gharanas

February 27, 2022
Ankit Pahadiya in Search of Truth: “Classical dance world is filled with politics”
Different Strokes

Ankit Pahadiya in Search of Truth: “Classical dance world is filled with politics”

March 18, 2021
Megh Akyayika, kathak dance, kathak, sandip soparkarr
Different Strokes

‘Megh Akhyayika – The tale of a cloud’ – A web-based performance series

March 14, 2021
international women's day, women's day, women, woman, achievers, actress, celebrity, influencers, social stars, model, singer
Different Strokes

International Women’s Day: Here’s what this day means to Women from different walks of life

March 8, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT

LATEST

Sandeep Dikshit, AAP, BJP, Delhi

Congress backs CBI raids on AAP leadership over excise policy, Sandeep Dikshit says AAP-BJP colluded to damage his party

August 19, 2022
Covid-19, Maharashtra,Mumbai

India logs new Covid cases and sees a single day rise of 15,754

August 19, 2022
CGST, Fraud,

Two proprietors of firms were held for input tax credit fraud worth more than Rs 20 crore

August 19, 2022
Gadkari said 70% work on the 1,350km long Mumbai-Delhi Expressway is completed.

Gadkari said 70% work on the 1,350km long Mumbai-Delhi Expressway is completed.

August 19, 2022
Covid,diseases, Maharashtra covid update

Covid cases jump 25% in a day in Maharashtra, Mumbai tally tops 1,200

August 19, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT
Afternoon Voice

© 2022 Newsmakers Publications Pvt. Ltd. | All rights reserved.

Important Links

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Support Parallel Media

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top News
  • City News
  • Nation
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • Hollywood
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Hockey
    • Tennis
    • Football
    • Badminton
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Diary
    • Letters
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Editor’s Pick
    • Featured
    • Lifestyle
    • Different Strokes
    • Multimedia
    • Sci-Tech
    • Politics

© 2022 Newsmakers Publications Pvt. Ltd. | All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?