As a long-time fan of management games like SimCity, Cities: Skylines, and Anno, I often find myself looking at real-world maps and imagining how I would plan a city. It's a creative exercise, a way to build worlds in my mind. Recently, one of these thought experiments took a strange and contemplative turn. It started, as it always does, with a grand vision. I imagined a new city, an urban utopia. In my city, the infrastructure would be flawless and all resources would be absolute. Residents would enjoy free electricity, free food, free healthcare, and free education. Wide, spacious lanes would make driving a pleasure, not a chore. As the benevolent mayor of this perfect city, I'd also ensure my citizens were well-entertained, in the way they wanted and when they wanted. For myself, I pictured a simple pleasure: driving up to the top of the hill next to the river on quiet nights to stargaze while listening to old Bollywood songs. As the city grew in my mind, I thought, "...
Friends and colleagues, I’ve had an epiphany while inching forward on the Outer Ring Road, and I feel compelled to share this revolutionary perspective. We've been looking at traffic all wrong. It’s not a problem; it’s a multi-faceted personal and economic growth seminar. Consider the benefits: Economic Stimulation : The more we idle in traffic, the more fuel we consume. This creates a powerful motivation to earn more, which in turn leads to higher tax contributions. We aren't just stuck; we are single-handedly powering the national economy from the driver's seat. It's a patriotic duty. The Mobile Sanctuary : Where else do you get 1-2 hours of guaranteed, uninterrupted time to think? The car has become a sanctuary for contemplation. Free from the watchful eyes of a boss or the honey-do list from a spouse, it is the perfect space to plan your next quarter, brainstorm a startup idea, or simply ponder the mysteries of the universe. Enforced Health Habits : Traffic has mad...