Revolutionary Road

You thought your city was taking its sweet time fixing that pothole on your street? Think again. The AFP reports that the waiting game for infrastructure changes in India makes our street fixes look like they're on the fast track.

After waiting 20 years for the government to build a road to their state’s capital city of Shillong, townspeople in Northeast India’s Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills got fed up – and armed with spades and axes, set about building the highway themselves, reports The China Post.

"Last month, we decided that we had waited long enough. All the villagers got together and decided to begin work from September 4. We hope to complete the work by the end of this month, and then see if the government still remains shameless and doesn't put tar on it," Tyllilang Mukhim, rangbah shnong ( headman) of Nonglatem village told the Hindustan Times.

Most of the population is made of farmers who sell their wares at market. But because there is no direct path to the main thoroughfare, many of the goods – like rice, ginger and other vegetables – rot before they get there.

The government said plans to finish the road were stalled due to lack of funds. No matter, say the villagers. With their crude instruments and do-it-yourself attitude, they plan to have the 15-mile road finished in 25 days. Hey, if the whole farming thing doesn’t work out, we’re sure there are some road workers stateside who could take a lesson in speed construction.

Photo courtesy Shashwat Nagpal via Flickr.