happiness and food

Yes, I am frustrated. To such an extent that it was visible on my face the moment I entered office. Instead of opening up the laptop and plugging it in, I opened the lunch bag and took out the boxes. My peers were at my desk and they were kind enough to give me some time by my own to calm down.

Why am I frustrated? 

On the night of November 4, 2015, I posted a status message on Facebook. A lot of people shared it, many accepted that the message resonated with their thoughts, many likes to indicate people felt the same as I did and then as usual all of us sat back warming our chairs and sipping coffee in this cold and rainy Bangalore weather. Sounds so serene!

The situation was the same today.

Nothing changes unless we want to change something and in what ever little capacity I can, I decided to write about it.

I am tired of complaining and that my voice falls on deaf ears. I am sick of Facebook status messages that say “started for work, three hours on, I am still in traffic” or “stuck in a pathetic jam”. I am bored of office conversations where the competition is who reached more late and who was stuck for a longer duration. I am frustrated.

Here’s what happened today.

After the November 4 episode, I decided to try Ola autos. So what if they charge ten bucks over the meter?  They are better managed. At least they pick me up from home, are courteous and they come only if they are ready for the ride. This was my understanding. Today and this has happened in the past as well, for good 15 trials on the app, none of the autos that were in my area (the auto icon appears on the app showing availability) were ready for a ride as close as 3 kilometers and making them earn less than 50 bucks.

Is this my problem? 

Of course yes! I should be staying far away from work so that I can waste my time commuting to work.

I digress. Back to today, after 15 failed attempts, I decided to step out and find an auto on my own. Not one or two or three. The moment I uttered the destination, five auto guys looked at me as if I was asking them to take me to the Moon. The sixth guy asked for an amount that was three times of what could have been the reading on meter. I said No. I was getting late but I could afford an angry No. Finally, one agreed and yes I paid him double the amount. He told me that they don’t get passengers to come back or they have to come back to the main road and that’s why they don’t want to get hired.

Is that my problem? Should I pay for an up and down trip? 

What if I was injured? What if I was carrying? What if I had someone in the hospital who I had to reach?

Well, nobody cares! And why should any one else care for my problems? I decided to hire an auto. My problem.

I was ready for work at 9 am and I reached at 10 am. If you are a Bangalorean staying in Whitefield, that must be music to your ears but I am 10 mins (and 2 kms) away from my office and I took an hour to reach. So, I win.

Why will the traffic not be heavy? 

BMTC reduced the number of buses that ply in the city in 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14. That means more and more people will be forced to buy two wheelers or cars and block the road amounting to the condition on road. BMTC’s research suggests that there are sufficient buses but they don’t have answers to why the buses are crowded and people ride on pavements during peak hours. BMTC has a big loan to repay and they cannot add to expenses. So, let people get their vehicles, we don’t need buses.

Well, there is #NammaMetro. 

How did I forget? We have metro in Bangalore. Today the third line was opened. Congratulations! Big win.

Line 1 – MG road to Bypanhalli (6.7 kms stretch)

Line 2 – Nagasandra to Mantri Square Sampige Road (12.4 kms stretch)

Line 3 – Magadi Road to Kengeri (6.8 kms stretch)

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has incurred losses this year on the operational lines. And I am not surprised. Well, here is what I think.

• Is Majestic (center of the city) connected to Metro?
• Are any of the Software Technology Parks connected? There are so many in Bangalore, name just one.
• Is Bangalore International Airport connected?

The answer to all of the above is NO.

All these are areas where maximum numbers of cars can be spotted. None is connected.

So, the common (wo)men who stay in Peenya can take a metro to Rajajinagar. Then they would want a bus to the closest Orion Mall. No buses available or they will be too crowded. Did you know the metro feeders have also been stopped? They try to get an auto. Oh, they won’t get one cos it’s a short ride. Solution – book a cab directly from Peenya. Why take parents and children in a metro – then struggle for the next connection? So drop metro and move on.

I need to catch a train. I need to go to airport. I need to go to office. Hire a cab. Isn’t is obvious BMRCL?

Oh the cabs!

The cab guys want to make cabs available for us so be ready to pay 2.2X and 4.0X in peak hours. And peak hours are on Sunday morning and those days when it rains. They are doing charity and that’s why they are asking for four times the price so that they can give back what they earn.

Now I realize I gave the poor auto guy just double the fare. He was so kind to just ask for 2X.

Why don’t you drive?

This advise came to me in the morning. Haven’t I told this before? Forget fear, it’s been 45 days since I cleared the driving test and I am ready to add another vehicle to the existing traffic woes of Bangalore but the driving license is missing. I will now spend another day – go to RTO and ask for what’s my right. I have already paid four times of the license fee to the driving school but who cares. I have deep pockets and I crib to pay the auto guy, right?

You have a cycle too. 

I know. It’s a nice little one. Perfect for my height and there are cycle lanes on the flyover. There are buses, honking cars, zooming two wheelers and there are autos. Just so you know, every one is running late. They will smile and let me pass and then I can reach office in 10 minutes and it will be good for my health as well. I can cover my laptop bag in a poly bag so that when it rains, my laptop is saved. All sounds so hunky dory. Let me do this now and when you hear of me being mowed down by a BMTC bus think of this post as my voice and know that cos there are fewer BMTCs, something else could have happened.

What’s my point?

I am tired of all this every single day. I want to get done with this every day rant for ever by writing all that is on my mind. Wait! No, this not to say I am going to jump in front of a BMTC.

If this post ever reaches honorable ministers of the city and the country, they should know that we are ones who wait to give ways to their convoy and then these ministers never care of the signals where the citizens waited for hours.

If this post ever reaches out there to say residents of other small or big cities – no this is not just Bangalore’s problem. When you ask me traffic is an issue in Bangalore – it is not! It’s an issue every where in India. You are lucky if you are not facing it.

What does urban development mean? Can someone help me get that?

What is the spelling of infrastructure? Do ministers even know that?

When an auto guy says No to a person who needs a commute, what is being done by the unions that demands better fares for drivers? And if at all there is a complaint mechanism, how is it being shared with the public to spread the word?

I am frustrated and why shouldn’t I be? Why am I expected to find my way to work when an existing bus and an auto can take me there – cheaper, energy-efficient way and not even adding another vehicle on the road. Why are there no rules ever? May be cos when ministers go on educational tours in other countries they visit a zoo and fail to see the infrastructure and public transport.

Why am I expected to speak up? Why can’t this be a part of the DNA of this country? Better roads, better public transport and better civic facilities. Trust me, we are not independent yet. We are still trapped under the shackles of Greed empire.

With over 1400 words now, I wonder if I my voice will be lost like before. Why no one in the system even gives a damn about what common (wo)man goes through every single day? Why? 

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For Day 17 of NaBloPoMo and NoMo, this is an honest write up of my frustration.