Congestion is not normal

We have normalized congestion in our lives.

- SUNITA NARAIN

We stand, sit, wait, fume, curse, groan, and get angry and frustrated. By the time we get to our destination, we are so exhausted that it feels as though the day is over before it has even begun. Each day, our journey ends in helplessness. In this daily grind, what we often fail to count for are the hours of our lives we lose—time away from family, friends, or even leisure. We discuss it endlessly—being stuck in traffic has taken over our conversations; yet, what is surprising is that we do not really understand why this is happening or what needs to be done. The only solutions in our mind are going signal-free, building flyovers, and widening roads. But the jam stays, and even gets worse.