Dubai Metro - Highlights of the Project

Dubai Metro work is on in full swing and I am excited. The metro will change the face of Dubai.

It’s nice to see the progress everyday as I walk to my office. Work has started at various locations. Excavation work is going round the clock. Many are complaining that metro work disturbs their night sleep. Even I hear noises on the Deira Rigga road where I reside. This is after all a small trade off for what Dubai will offer by September 2009. One of the hallmarks of a developed city is a metro system. The most advanced cities of the world have their own railway network. The population of Dubai slated to hit the 3 million mark by 2017 (currently around 1.4 million, 2005 estimate). Going by the speed at which projects are executed I see the Red Line of the metro going operational by September 2009 as promised by the government.

Here are some specs of Dubai Metro:

• It’s a $4.25 billion project
• Capacity of each train will be 897 people.
• Total number of trains will be 87 (62 for the Red Line & 25 for the Green Line).
• Trains will be manufactured in Japan.
• Each train will have 5 compartments.
• Each compartment will include CCTV; special needs people requirement, signage system and metro route map.
• Each train will have 3 classes: Golden Class, Women & children Class & the Silver Class.
• Each compartment will be 18 meters in length.
• Price of each train will be AED 500 Million ($136 million each).
• Parking lots will be reserved for metro users.

The Future of Computers - Say Goodbye to Laptops

Look Closely and guess what these could be...

Are they Pens with Cameras?

Any Wild Guesses? No clues yet?

You have just looked into the Future...Yes, that's right!
This is something that could replace your laptop in the near future...

Here is how it works...

In the revolution of miniature computers, scientists have made great developments with blue tooth technology.
This is the forthcoming computer that you will carry in your pocket.

This "Pen sort of Instrument" produces both the monitor as well as the Keyboard on any flat surface from where you carry out functions that you normally do with a laptop or a desktop computer.

Now shall we say Goodbye to Laptops?

Shilpa Shetty, Racism and the Big Brother Celebrity Show

So much has been made of racism in the ‘Big Brother Celebrity’ show in UK in which Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty took part. The show in which participants Jade Goody and Danielle Boyd hurled nasty comments on her lead to widespread condemnation and public anger.

As if to prove that racism does not exist; the masses voted Shilpa Shetty to a thumping victory. Now does her victory mean that British people are not racist? I beg to disagree here. The fact is that racism has existed for centuries and will continue to exist. The only difference was that in this reality show it was open and brazen; which it ought not to have been. Racism is that which man has to learn to live with. You experience racism right from your childhood. Ultimately it is with one’s roots that one associates. Even among one’s own country men racism exists. For example two people from the same state in India (a country of 30 states) might relate better than from two people from different regions. Language is another thing that makes people racist. No wonder Shilpa Shetty was looked at as a person who doesn’t even know English. Two Texans in America might better understand each other than a Texan and a New Yorker. You identify yourself closest with some one who knows your roots and your mother tongue Even a white American is not very welcome in Britain. He might be looked at as racist. Similarly an Australian might be unwelcome in Britain and vice versa. It does not always have to do with the color of the skin.

In America and UK an Indian immigrant is generally not treated on par with a native. An Indian in a first world country like the USA, Canada or UK will always remain a third rate citizen. This is the sad truth that an Indian knows but will not always acknowledge. The economic standing of a nation can aggravate or alleviate racist feelings. Poverty ignites racist tendencies. Wealth and racist feelings often go hand in hand. If a subcontinent Asian in America wants to be perceived better there; the one thing that can (to some extent) cover racist feelings is his social standing – His Wealth. If he is rich he is looked at and treated better.

For Shilpa Shetty she couldn’t have got luckier - Publicity surrounding the racism row drove viewer figures to a record high for the show, with 7.8 million people tuning in. Further it has opened doors with a slew of new offers from which she can rake in a few millions. She must be thanking her stars for the racist attack that she experienced!

Management Story - On Being a Successful Manager

It's a fine sunny day in the forest and a lion is sitting outside his cave, lying in the sun. Along comes a fox, out on a walk.

Fox: "Do you know the time, because my watch is broken"
Lion: "Oh, I can easily fix the watch for you"
Fox: "Hmm... But it's a very complicated mechanism, and your big claws will only destroy it even more"
Lion: "Oh no, give it to me, and it will be fixed"
Fox: "That's ridiculous! Any fool knows that lazy lions with great claws cannot fix complicated watches"
Lion: "Sure they do, give it to me and it will be fixed"
The lion disappears into his cave, and after a while he comes back with the watch which is running perfectly. The fox is impressed, and the lion
continues to lie lazily in the sun, looking very pleased with himself.

Soon a wolf comes along and stops to watch the lazy lion in the sun.

Wolf: "Can I come and watch TV tonight with you, because mine is broken"
Lion: "Oh, I can easily fix your TV for you"
Wolf: "You don't expect me to believe such rubbish, do you? There is no way that a lazy lion with big claws can fix a complicated TV"
Lion: "No problem. Do you want to try it?"
The lion goes into his cave, and after a while comes back with a perfectly fixed TV. The wolf goes away happily and amazed.

Scene :
Inside the lion's cave. In one corner are half a dozen small and intelligent looking rabbits who are busily doing very complicated work
with very detailed instruments. In the other corner lies a huge lion looking very pleased with himself.

Moral :
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY A MANAGER IS FAMOUS; LOOK AT THE WORK OF HIS SUBORDINATES.

Management Lesson In the context of the working world :
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY SOMEONE UNDESERVED IS PROMOTED; LOOK AT THE WORK OF HIS SUBORDINATES.

Ajman Likely to Have Its Own Metro System

There is news of Ajman; Dubai’s neighboring emirate to build its own railway network. Ajman’s metro system may eventually connect to other emirates and to Dubai. The chairman of Ajman Municipality revealed this likelihood a couple of days ago. This is great news and will mean major changes in travel life styles of people from Sharjah and Ajman to UAE. Should Ajman metro become a reality; it will have major positive impact solving traffic problems. Ajman metro will need involvement of Sharjah Emirate. Ajman being right next to Sharjah; Ajman rail has to pass through Sharjah.

If the metro becomes a reality then UAE real estate scene will change dramatically. Currently Ajman also offers freehold properties to foreign residents in a limited way at throw away prices. When compared to Dubai free hold properties Ajman freehold is outright cheap. Foreign investors willing to invest in UAE property should think of Ajman from the pint of view of investment and appreciation. If the metro gets operational then Ajman land and property prices are bound to move up. However don’t expect this to happen soon. It may take a minimum of 6-8 years. Remember Ajman and other emirates cannot compete with Dubai in terms of speed of execution of projects. Dubai metro is starting off in September 2009.

Fortune Tower Fire in Dubai Kills Four

Last week’s fire at the Fortune Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite Dubai Marina took a toll of 4 lives and some 60 injuries. Many of the workers were from the sub continent. Onlookers who saw the inferno felt like seeing another 11/9. One worker literally jumped to death from the high tower. The injured were treated for smoke inhalation and needed oxygen. Fire engulfed the high rise building which was nearing completion. The higher floors of the building was where most workers were on the job. It is still not known what exactly caused the blaze, but an electrical short circuit is the likely cause.

The UAE has a pretty bad track record of enforcing proper security measures at construction sites. While the equipments used are no doubt of high quality; the safety measures that are mandatory for construction of high rise buildings are never completely adhered to. Proper training is rarely given to the workers. Casualties at construction work sites is quite common and such deaths are not correctly reported and major disasters are made to look like small slip ups. Wages are low and working conditions are bad. Human rights go at a discount and workers welfare is seldom addressed. Until recently construction workers were made to toil in the scorching summer afternoons without a break when temperatures frequently reach 45-50 degrees. Exploitation of workers is rampant at a wage that can shock the western world. Living conditions for the laborers are far from satisfactory.

Workers rights in this part of the world are limited. For example it is common practice for employers in the UAE to retain employees' passports for the duration of the employment contract to prevent expatriate employees from changing jobs. This is an illegal practice, but it is almost never investigated, let alone punished by the government.

Coming to the present disaster; I would like to know what compensation the concerned authorities doled out to the 4 victims who lost their lives in the inferno. And what compensation will be given the 60 odd workers who suffered smoke inhalation and hospitalization? Monetary figures are rarely disclosed and there are no proper guidelines when it comes to addressing such grievances. Compensation is usually a pittance. The country has a long way to go in such measures and one can only expect things to improve.