An open letter from a common man in Vizag to the PM of India

“Will a common man ever be spared from the wrath of a sudden increase in rates? How do we acquire basic amenities if the rates keep on increasing and that too frequently? Till when will this atrocity continue? I am a common man from Vizag writing an open letter to Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, not seeking an answer but seeking a change.

I had to travel from Jagadamba junction to BHEL Colony in Vizag for an important work on last Sunday morning. Since Vizag was burning under the sun’s scorching heat that day, I decided to travel by car. On my way to BHEL, I had to stop at a petrol bunk for refilling. Though I came across the news that the fuel rates have increased very recently, I had no idea that the rate of petrol has touched Rs 84 per litre. Humour hit me hard when voices of the leaders started dwelling in my mind. “Get us into power and we promise you that prices will be dropped down to manageable rates” is what most of us have been hearing in every election. Keeping aside the promise, prices of the fuel are on a constant hike than the actual rate.

I decided to move on, both from the petrol bunk and the thoughts of the promises made by the makers of the country. I took the Port Road to reach my destination. There is a toll station present on the way where I should pay my taxes for accessing the road. I remembered paying a toll fee of  Rs 26 or Rs 27 to and fro for driving in a car the previous month and hence I handed over the amount to the respected person at the station. Now what came in return hit me hard again. The person at the station informed me that the toll rates have increased as well. I asked him about the actual rate while I was reaching out for my wallet and heard him saying that the toll rate is Rs 54 now, which is double of what I have paid a month back.

Respected PM, Narendra Modi, honestly, I drove myself along that road a lot of times and I never found a place or a stop which delivers water, food, toilet booths for the travellers and other basic amenities. The road is not even in proper condition at some places and no shelters are provided where one can stop over if there are heavy rains. So, for what reason were the toll charges doubled? And adding to this, none of the government officials pays toll fee and I think they probably wouldn’t even know the trouble a common man faces. All we get is a simple statement that rate of a particular service or a set of goods has been hiked.

Still, I paid the toll fee and moved forward. But this time, I did not want to remain calm on this issue. I vote for seeking a change and I have every right to know why the rates are being increased so frequently. The leaders did not choose the people in the country but the people are the ones who choose the leaders. As a common man, who is said to be the most powerful, I urge to question our PM, Narendra Modi, about the hike of rates around us. Because, if this is the case in the coming future, we, the common people, are the ones who are going to suffer more.”

-By a common man from Vizag

The views expressed here are solely of the author and not Yo! Vizag.