Mumbaikars take pride in their city being labeled as the “City of dreams”, “India’s Financial Capital” etc. The resident’s of this city are often complemented for their resolve to face all odds. Perhaps, the city that braved “7/11″, “26/11″ needs a volunteer force to retain its brand image.

For a start, most in the city can afford to bribe its police force out of trouble.

The police force may be efficient in tracking down crime. But, for every single upright police officer there are corrupt officers in equal, perhaps more, measure. Every single law drawn up is celebrated by the corrupt elements in the force as one that offers one additional avenue to accepting a bribe.

Look around yourself to realise - How many citizens who travel by no less than a Mercedes violate traffic rules - lane violations, jumping red signals etc. Jumping the white line is an offence. Forget it being an offence, it is a pedestrians right to cross the road through the zebra crossing. But, does the guy who is at the steering wheel care? How could he? Most times the drivers are uneducated and not even aware that crossing the white line is an offence. Surely, the man reclined on the rear seat could educate the driver but does he care?

How many times have we been honked by the big car lined up behind you for waiting for the signal to turn green. The BMC has earmarked a number of areas as ” No Horn Zone”. But has it made a difference? Even if there are violators, who notices in this mad “city of slums”.

The BMC and the MMRDA who ever is responsible spend crores of rupees of the tax payers money to beautify the roads by laying side walks with paver blocks. But who uses them? The hawkers! Pedestrians still walk in the middle of the road.

It is time that we woke up to our conscience. The authorities enforced law to create awareness. Perhaps, instead of a fine it is time to send the man at the rear of the Mercedes/ BMW to jail for a night the next time he violated the law. Make them spend the night with ordinary criminals to make him aware.

The city needs some discipline if it can be called a world class city. We want our city to be one.