Last summer, when it was time for me to pack away my banker's suit and get back to being a simple student back in India, I was happy indeed but I did realize that I'd miss several things that I'd enjoyed in those two months- the company of some great people, exploring islands nearby on weekends and of course the bank balance that would look healthier on the 2nd of each month :). But there was one thing for which I believed there would be no replacement, back in India- the extremely comfortable public transport system. I was in total awe of the well-organized metro & tram systems in Hong Kong and I knew that we Indians, despite all our other lovable qualities, are also prone to be present in large and unruly crowds that make public travel not a very pleasant experience except perhaps for those who take a keen interest in studying human nature through observation.
So, when I reached Delhi, with all my apprehensions of coming to the city which has been tainted in the news reports in the past few months, I was not really excited at the idea of having to travel by public transport daily to work. I was introduced to the Delhi Metro just a few hours after landing here! My views of public transport here took a turn for the better. And it's been getting better since then.
It is no mean feat to achieve in India what has come to be known as world-class transportation. Delhi Metro, established way back in 2002, shows the world that we can also create good infrastructure in our country to improve people's quality of life, despite the shortcomings we face - an exploding population count, people not used to the idea of not using any public area near them as a dustbin or a spittoon and the lack of technology or skilled manpower to build a robust public transport system.
The metros are crowded. You may not get a seat. Even if you sit, you may have to comply with those irritating requests of "thoda sa shift karo" making three people sit in the space allotted for two. At some key stations, the moment when the metro arrives, you do get the feeling of standing on a battlefield face-to-face with an enemy army, on seeing the people standing inside the metro. And the shoving-hustling war that ensues after the doors open isn't pleasant for either side. Hence, for those who I've seen to complain about its comfort, yes, the metro is definitely not as convenient as going in your chauffered cab whose expenses will be covered by the company you work for. But, for the middle classes who have only had the crowded and dirty buses or the rude and ever-ready-to-loot autowallas as their means of conveyance when they don't own a vehicle, the metro is a Godsend. With the clean compartments, the air-conditioning and the regular commentary on the route and cautionary announcements, the metro is simply the best way for a middle-class professional to travel. And there is the added advantage that no monsoon, however heavy it may be, can delay a metro / cause a jam. Can any BMW or Audi beat that? :)
Well, the metro is not perfect, yet. Yes, there are some routes which can be covered quicker by road. There is work in progress to complete some connections that would make things better for Delhi. However, the example set by Mr. Sreedharan is definitely inspirational and must motivate infrastructure development officials to give their best and contribute to the biggest area where India lags in terms of development.
Yes, I know that last part sounds like a lot of globe that everyone knows wouldn't practically happen. And yes, it might look like a lot of armchair advice on nation-building. But, as Mr. Sreedharan had once been quoted to say, he had just done the work allotted to him sincerely, nothing beyond that. Well, if each of us could do that, we can see some real hope, beyond mere words in blog posts like this.
The metros are crowded. You may not get a seat. Even if you sit, you may have to comply with those irritating requests of "thoda sa shift karo" making three people sit in the space allotted for two. At some key stations, the moment when the metro arrives, you do get the feeling of standing on a battlefield face-to-face with an enemy army, on seeing the people standing inside the metro. And the shoving-hustling war that ensues after the doors open isn't pleasant for either side. Hence, for those who I've seen to complain about its comfort, yes, the metro is definitely not as convenient as going in your chauffered cab whose expenses will be covered by the company you work for. But, for the middle classes who have only had the crowded and dirty buses or the rude and ever-ready-to-loot autowallas as their means of conveyance when they don't own a vehicle, the metro is a Godsend. With the clean compartments, the air-conditioning and the regular commentary on the route and cautionary announcements, the metro is simply the best way for a middle-class professional to travel. And there is the added advantage that no monsoon, however heavy it may be, can delay a metro / cause a jam. Can any BMW or Audi beat that? :)
Well, the metro is not perfect, yet. Yes, there are some routes which can be covered quicker by road. There is work in progress to complete some connections that would make things better for Delhi. However, the example set by Mr. Sreedharan is definitely inspirational and must motivate infrastructure development officials to give their best and contribute to the biggest area where India lags in terms of development.
Yes, I know that last part sounds like a lot of globe that everyone knows wouldn't practically happen. And yes, it might look like a lot of armchair advice on nation-building. But, as Mr. Sreedharan had once been quoted to say, he had just done the work allotted to him sincerely, nothing beyond that. Well, if each of us could do that, we can see some real hope, beyond mere words in blog posts like this.
1 comment:
Good one :)
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