Yerevan’s Municipal Development — The Insanity Continues…
As Komitas grinds to a halt because of ill-devised road works and other municipal “development” all underway at the same time despite the disruption it causes, Zarchka at Life Around Me reports that construction in another part of the city has now been stopped. The reason? Well, plans to build an underpass under a road in the center hit a snag. Quite a big one, actually. More precisely, the Yerevan Metro.
This is kind of a continuation to the post on Oneworld Multimedia blog about the construction mess in Yerevan and alleged money being spent on digging deep needless holes as if for constructing subways, although the rumor has it that “…the construction is being done now so that the authorities can spend as much money as possible in the shortest amount of time and siphon off much of it…”
However, this allegation may turn out to be true especially when the huge hole dug along Khanjyan street at Khanjyan and Tigran Mets intersection is now filled back.
What I got from talking to some people, no subway will be constructed there as one of the reasons I was told was that only after digging deep into it they found out that the metro passes under that area!
Almost funny, if it weren’t that sad. How on earth could they not take into consideration the fact that they might stumble upon the underground, especially when by simple logics one may presume that the line from Hanrapetutyan Hraparak to Zoravar Andranik stations should pass right under that area!!?? Didn’t they bother to shoot a glance at the metro map before starting their destruction??!!
If that’s not the case, then I wonder, what is a logical explanation for laying a double layered asphalt along Khanjyan street, then digging it deep, then filling it back??
Actually, I heard this from a visiting Diasporan at the beginning of the week and once again have to admit that each time I think nothing else can surprise me in Armenia, something stupid happens to prove me wrong. Notes from Hairenik and I wrote more on this insanity bordering on criminal negligence here and here.
And yes, rumors that all of this construction is happening now, months before next year’s presidential election as well as the election of a new Mayor, in order to siphon off money has to make you wonder. Either that or a bunch of retards control this city. Look what chaos and insanity this pointless construction created in the video from A1 Plus below.
What a hopeful assessment, either way. The much talked about Armenian apathy is usually something I don’t blame them for, they’ve been a lot and really there isn’t much they can do about their leaders- however this is just ridiculous. They are being put through idiocy which is only costing a struggling country loads of money while inconveniencing the entire population but no one does anything. I think when it gets to this point of downright bizarre behavior someone needs to say something, this is their city too and they should let these guys know. Of course it’s easy for diasporans to say that, a whole different thing actually doing so in Armenia but come on- just because you are subject to authoritarian leaders doesn’t mean you can’t make things difficult for them. And where’s diasporan pressure when you need it? One thing dismaying about the possible killing of the genocide bill is that this means who knows how many more years on just concentrating on that. Isn’t there some sort of balance between that and making sure the insanity in Armenia is kept under control? Armenian Tree Project seems to be good because it protests the various natural abuses and have at least one major victory against the government under their belt- but where are the others? If ATP could do it why can’t other groups push for more responsible government? I am not sure who would be the one to do it- perhaps the Assembly- but since their officials have told me their org’s position is of support for the Armenian government no matter who is in office I doubt they’d undertake such a necessary project. Which is sad, where’s the accountability? If the diaspora doesn’t do it (and they certainly have a lot of leverage), no one will.
Comment by Paul — October 19, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Going Underground — Construction Chaos in Armenia
Zarchka at Life Around Me reports that new construction of an underpass in the center of the Armenian capital has hit a snag. Quite a big one, actually. To be precise, the Yerevan Metro.
Oneworld Multimedia posts a video of some of the chaos that the c…
Trackback by Global Voices Online — October 22, 2007 @ 3:35 am