NEW DELHI: The latest incident of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) calling for putting in place feeder services to link the Metro railway system in the Capital yet again reflects the indifference that has come to be identified with the Congress-led Government in Delhi as it inches towards completion of its seventh year in office next month.

Political observers here are of the view that apart from the ills plaguing the transportation system in the Capital, many others issues of public importance are hanging fire due to inaction on part of the Congress Government or its inability to take decisions. It has taken no less a man than the DMRC Managing Director E. Sreedharan himself to point out to the delay in providing the feeder link that is very crucial for the success and proper utility of the Metro rail. The matter has been pending with the Delhi Government for the past almost two years and despite a decision being taken in July by the Delhi Cabinet, nothing has moved.

Observers feel that failure on this front is only an indicator of the situation prevailing in the Delhi Administration whose functioning has come under criticism for its inability to take decisions and get major projects moving. There has clearly been a lack of will to discipline the errant Blueline buses. The blackmail by autorickshaw mafia of daily commuters continues unabated without any action from the Delhi Government or the traffic police. So much so that the Government is now contemplating giving further concessions to this lobby. The public outcry on the issues of fast running meters, inflated power and water bills continues. "The Delhi Government has lost the ability to take decisions as a result good governance has taken a beating," a senior Minister remarked.

As for the Delhi Cabinet, a majority of Ministers are not happy with the working style of Chief Secretary S. Regunathan, and also over posting of senior officials in their Departments without consulting them. It is learnt that many of the Ministers are now contemplating asserting their authority.

"The administration is in a suspended animation mode. Tell me what major projects have been initiated or decisions taken during the last one and a half years. Files just don't move and matters are kept pending for months. Even decisions taken by us are sometimes reversed. It seems, Ms. Dikshit is just quietly watching the whole situation," another Minister remarked.

Observers point out that the Government's priorities could be gauged from the fact that it has dithered on taking a decision on major issues like water and power crises, relocation of industrial areas, improvement in the public transport system, strengthening the internal generation of power by putting up new plants, initiating second generation of pollution reforms and upgrading infrastructure.

On the other hand, it has shown unnecessary zeal in putting in place a liberal excise policy and buckling to pressure from multinational companies on issues of public importance including outsourcing of tender works to such companies.

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