INDIANS HIT THE ROAD AMID ELEPHANTS?

Here's the venerable The New York Times proclaiming loudly 'Indians Hit the Road Amid Elephants'. Elephants prowling on Delhi roads? I have seen my fair share of cows, but elephants? Looks like an enthusiastic desk hand let his imagination run riot.

As you read the piece there's more. At least this morning there was no elephant chewing bamboo in the fast lane, as there sometimes is. I've been in Delhi for eleven years, and I have still not been privileged enough to bump into an elephant on the roads.

The article has raised some relevant points, but falls into the trap of stemming from a pre-determined conclusion, giving full scope for sprinkling it with the masala of cliches.

Elephantine traffic jams though are very much part of the plot in Delhi. But it is unfair to lay the blame only at the door of poor infrastructure. Narrow roads are part and parcel of most Indian cities, but that is one charge which cannot be levelled against most of Delhi. The capital city has the widest roads in the country, has the maximum number of flyovers. On the other hand, the reality is that the number of vehicles are simply too large.

Along with the sheer number, drivers and pedestrians alike have scant regard for traffic rules. Half the accidents could be avoided if they can resist the temptation to be there first as well as fast. More of discipline and less of jugaad would help matters considerably.

Related Posts

NANOMANIA

FRIENDLIER BUSES IN THE CAPITAL

NANOMANIA

From Nagpur to New York, the Nano has been making waves across the world. Undoubtedly a one-lakh car is a fantastic achievement and media hype is in overdrive mode.

It is a different matter though, when you are at the receiving end of Nanomania. I cursed my stupidity on Friday evening for travelling via Pragati Maidan en route to Connaught Place. While the media and the visitors to the Auto Expo in Pragati Maidan raved about the Nano (including the visiting Greek Prime Minister), there were thousands stuck in the crossfire, with cars waiting from Pragati Maidan to Connaught Place.

Add to this cacophony, a few thousand nanos replacing the horde of scooters and bikes, with the size of the roads remaining constant.

Autorickshaws too may go the Nano way. After all, a new autorickshaw costs around 1.2 lakh rupees. In terms of fuel efficiency, Nano gives around 20 km per litre. Not suprisingly, autorickshaw owners in Mumbai are seeking permits allowing the use of the Nano for public transport. A more comfortable ride is in store, only that you might have to spend longer time on the road.

The roads may get choked with Nanos, but we have no business pointing fingers at the Tata Group. The Nano is undoubtedly the stuff of dreams, appealing not just to the middle-class metro Indian but also catering to the aspirations of the small town Indian. With better infrastructure, Rata Tata's small car could well reach out to rural areas too.

Dr R K Pachauri of Nobel Peace Prize fame has suggested that the Tatas should better concentrate on investing in public transport.

Quoting Ratan Tata, “I agree that India lacks public transport but you are at the wrong press conference. We are not responsible for public transport.” He's right - that's the government's domain. The cities are crying out for better public transport, be it metro or buses. The metro has covered considerable ground in Delhi, and by 2010 most of Delhi (not to forget Noida and Gurgaon) will be accessible through the metro. One hopes that buses will also keep pace, with the rickety and menacing bluelines given a well-deserved burial.

Incidentally, the new sleek low-floor buses plying on Delhi roads are made by Tata. Buses which could well be the harbingers of comfortable travel.

Related Posts

FRIENDLIER BUSES IN THE CAPITAL

FRIENDLIER BUSES IN THE CAPITAL

Diwali day - Delhiites zipping by in their swank cars stopped and stared, treated as they were to a spectacle of green on the roads. At long last, here was public (road) transport in the capital city which made you say, 'wow' on the face of it. A dozen sleek green buses had made their debut.

As a veteran of many a hair-raising Blueline ride, I simply had to assure myself it was indeed possible to undertake a bus journey with some degree of comfort. So Saturday afternoon I landed in Sivaji Stadium terminus in Connaught Place, waiting for the dream bus.

It was a bit of a wait, but the Tata-Marcopolo bus lived up to expectations. Here was a low-floored bus which women, children and the physically challenged could board easily. Automatic gear system, GPS - drivers have the latest technology in front of them. And speed governors are firmly in place to halt the drivers' adrenaline rush.

And all those macho males can no longer cling on to the footboard, because the door has to be closed before the bus moves.

But sleekness can also be a double-edged sword. The day I was travelling the bus crew was all at sea grappling with a GPS system which had to be activated for the bus to move. Technology is great, but what if the end-users don't know how to use it? Also with so many poor stretches of roads, are these buses too delicate to survive? Three buses reportedly broke down on day one.

It's a pity that the Delhi government needed to quote the 2010 Commonwealth Games to move forward on basic transport infrastructure. The capital city of the country should have acted long back. That said, here's to a green future without the rampaging bluelines.