Atul Grove Road
How this is the centre of corruption gravity
The name of Atul Grove Road echoed in parliament in the sixties first time for the alleged lethargy of government in not allotting the numerous British era bungalow quarters suspecting the hidden motive to allot for political affiliates.
Eventually that is what happened, for the last seven decades these sprawling quarters in the middle of acres of gardens and lawns remain allotted to the trade unions affiliated to one or the other national parties. Even though they are partially dilapidated, they are in acceptable living condition but except one or two caretakers nobody lives there in the four bedroom bungalows. After complaints, the unions make a show of using the bungalows by annually hosting an eyewash union function.
It is strange to notice that every six months or one year, the perfectly intact footpaths repaved unnecessarily spending crores , while tribal areas are denied basic amenities of roads,water, health and education.
One or two quarters get allotted to parliament members too. But one of them showed his power by shifting the three garbage bins to the next Street, half a kilometre away, depriving the entire residential community of garbage bins. He justified it for parking his visitors' vehicles in the no parking stretch of the road in front of his quarters.
A few of the quarters are allotted to board level officers of BSNL and MTNL because the pocket comes within the P&T enclave.
When you want to live near New Delhi stations, Connaught Place, India Gate, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, Central Secretariat,CGO complex, Khan market, Lodi colony, Pragati Maidan, High Court and Supreme Court, ITO, Dariya Ganj, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium, Jumma Masjid and so on, it is not wise to live in the middle of only one such locality, missing out on the equidistant access to all the other important and happening places.
Atul Grove Road, the unsung, unheard of road is one such central place providing equal access to the heroic places but keeps itself in the shadows, a perfect combination of central location and peaceful anonymity.
