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Letter Of TheWeek
ROP Booking Offenders
Everyone is in a rush to reach the office in time for work each morning. Some forget decency, lack patience and drive on the wrong side of the road (sometimes dangerously) or on the hard shoulder in order to beat the queue.
Each morning getting out of Azaiba roundabout, 3km from my house, takes around 15–20 minutes, driving along the road next to Rawasco. Usually I am unhappy when people break traffic rules while I wait patiently in line. These days I am very happy as I cross Rawasco, as the ROP has made its presence felt.
Policemen stand right behind Rawasco. Not many people breaking the rules can see them until it is too late and they get booked. I appreciate the work being done by the ROP in this area and hope they can and will do so in as many areas as possible to reduce the number of traffic violations.
Such patrolling on a regular basis will definitely regulate traffic, reduce congestion and avoid a few mishaps. Until a few months back there was just one policeman who used to stand on the T-junction next to Rawasco and the traffic would move smoothly. Anyone found violating would be booked so people would not dare to take risks.
One thing is becoming more and more evident on the roads. As long as the ROP is out there, most people do not break a few rules. What people need to understand is that as long as we all follow the traffic rules, we have a smooth flow; we can reach our destination faster and more safely. When we try to break rules, it can lead to a chain reaction and others soon join in, and we create a mess for ourselves and also for others.
Mallya, via email
Supermarket supply and demand
This is in response to letters about supermarket prices in Issues 357 and 359 of TheWeek.
The discrepancy in commodities pricing accounts for the law of supply and demand. In Lulu Hypermarket, prices are lower than in other hypermarkets because of the high supply of products that they purchase directly from producers.
If the demand for a certain product is high, then the price can curve down a bit to its marginal cost. Since Lulu has a large number of customers, it purchases greater quantities of products to supply the demand of consumers. Remember that if the supply is high, the price is low.
If the supply is low, the price is high. Thus, in retailing, Lulu can reduce the price a little bit lower than the other hypermarket competitors.
Shopping requires practical sense, and it all depends on us to fit our likings.
Susan A Cochingco, posted online
Correspondence on A R Rahman concert continues
The Jai Ho A R Rahman concert on 21/1/2010 was not as wonderful an experience as some people expected.
While the show went on in style, I was a victim of the negative side of the disorganised arrangements right at the entrance of the show.
The gate only opened at 5.30pm, not the advertised time of 4pm, even though the queue built up as early as 3.30pm. Volunteers said that there was a separate entrance for tickets costing RO25, RO50 and RO100; and those who were confused about their entry gates realised there was another entry.
Later, the volunteers said that women could make a separate queue to accelerate the security check. Soon people jam-packed the gate, although a considerable number of people continued to queue.
To my surprise, they closed the gate at 7pm, and I was amazed to hear that the gallery was full. Inexplicably the counter in front of the gate was busy selling tickets at that time. Then some people moved to the other gate as instructed by the ROP, which was the entrance for RO25, RO50 and RO100 tickets. Meanwhile many families got separated as women were inside the stadium and their anxious husbands were worried about what to do.
Soon it become like a combat field, with people eager to get into the stadium. Meanwhile the show started at 8pm sharp. Myself and four of my colleagues waited till 8.30pm to gain entry. There were people trying to get in and getting injured. I think the organisers had not planned the basics of conducting such an event.
Unsurprisingly, I later learnt from people who managed to enter the stadium that the gallery facing the highway and the opposite side were not occupied at all.I request that the organisers refund the people who were denied entry till late evening.
Joby Mathew, via email
The Jai Ho concert was spectacular for RO200 and RO100 ticket holders – but not for RO10 ticket holders. The organisers forgot to view the stage from the gallery when setting the projection screens.
One more thing – the RO10 tickets should have been printed with the advice ‘Bring binoculars with you to see the programme’. Many people having RO10 tickets were not allowed to enter, even after the programme started. The gallery was totally cut off from the main stream. Why?
Usha M, via email
This letter is in response to the article in TheWeek in Issue 360 about the A R Rahman concert, ‘Great show, poor organisation’. I would like to respond to a few of the remarks mentioned in the article. Women were asked to stand in a separate line on a basis of security rather than preference because it was more time-consuming to perform security checks on women.
I don’t think that the 50m covered to the side entrance was a very big distance as the people who had to cover it would have travelled further from the parking area to the gate. I do not see the logic in blaming the organisers because people turned up at 9pm when the gates were open from 4pm. Those who bought RO100 tickets were seated 20m away from the main stage, which was pretty close.
To sum up, I feel that your correspondent hasn’t done justice to those involved in organising this programme. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those involved in putting this show together.
Prashanth Muraleedharan, via email
I would like to express my sympathies to the hapless music lovers who purchased tickets for the A R Rahman concert with great expectations, only to go through the ordeal of having to struggle to enter the venue, minus mobile phones, soft drinks, etc.
At the same time, I believe that it is not worth undergoing such trials and tribulations to attend any event, much less one showcasing Rahman, whose music bears no comparison with that of virtuosos like Shanker Jaikishen, C Ramachandra, O P Nayyar, S D Burman, R D Burman and Laxmikant Pyarelal, whose time-tested melodies endure long after their composers are no more.
I also believe that the chaos was easily predictable, given the estimate of a 13,000-strong crowd and the myopic attitudes of most event organisers with regard to attention to arrangements for (paying) audiences to peacefully and comfortably enjoy an event in an orderly environment.
Hopefully, after this event, these organisers will stop voicing their concerns as to why the public of Muscat is reluctant to buy tickets for any event and instead looks for free passes.
Name withheld
A lot has been written during the past week on the bad organisation of the A R Rahman concert and the bitter experiences suffered by a section of ticket holders of the event. The inexperience of the event managers was evident from day one when they refused to provide a map for seating arrangements along with the tickets.
In India, where events like this are held regularly, the gate of entry and the enclosures are clearly marked on the back of each ticket. Here, there was absolutely no guidance whatsoever to direct ticket holders to a particular gate.
The programme was dubbed a success by the event managers. Well, they made their money so why should they care about the inconveniences and injustices meted out to the ticket buyers?
No word of apology or explanation has appeared in the print media so far from the organisers’ side. People who spent their hard-earned money on the ‘no free pass’ show had to put up with this attitude of the event managers
. Well, they should keep in mind that when in future such shows are held, people will think twice before spending their money on these highly priced tickets.
Bina Mathew, via email
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Reader Comments
Posted by
Sanjay,
Muscat
on
February 03, 2010
The letter by Mr. Prashanth Muraleedharan reagarding the A. R. Rahman show looks more like a bad PR job done by the organiser, or otherwise a letter written by someone who knows nothing about what he is talking. Anyway one word of advice for all fellow sufferers, Please remember the name of the organisers and the Event management company and avoid any show in future by them. I guess thats the only way to safegaurd yourself from these unprofessional money-minders.
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Posted by
Concerned Citizen,
Jibroo
on
February 08, 2010
It was with complete disgust that I read a recent article in 'Y' magazine highlighting the mistreatement of the animals at "zoo" belonging to Ahmed bin Abdul Rahim Al Balushi Trading.
It's fair to say that people in this part of the world generally treat animals with contempt.
Why are there no regualtions protecting these caged creatures and why do the authorities allow this to happen right under their noses. Out of sight, out of mind I suspect. The owner of this cess pit should be heavily fined and then imprisoned to see how he likes it.
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Posted by
Susan A. Cochingco,
Muscat
on
February 08, 2010
The cover story of The Week dated February 3,2010 had imparted a fascinating magnetic appeal and impressive information in relevance to the advantages of modern technology particularly website social links.
Currently, there are some issues about robbery, snatching, and many other related problems in Oman. Crimes like these are part of the society that we live in; however, some victims can reach out through the community and at least solve the issue by means of social networks. website links are really a huge help to every individual to be a part of the changing environment which corresponds to the modern world.
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