Bangalore Metblogs » Prasad Govenkar

Say no to cars, bikes on April 7

Prasad Govenkar — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:26:32 +0000

The third Bus Day, one of BMTC’s successful campaigns urging people to commute by public transport, will be observed on April 7 (Wednesday) instead of the usual 4th of every month. The change is because April 4 is a Sunday and April 5 is BBMP poll counting day. This time, buses will be deployed in five corridors.
The last two Bus Days in February and March received a positive response with NGOs and MNCs supporting the cause. The campaign also encouraged the use of company buses and employees of tech majors like Wipro and Infosys bussed to their campuses in large numbers.

This time, the campaign will focus on five corridors; Bannerghatta Road, Hosur Road, Sarjapur Road, Old Airport Road to ITPB and Old Madras Road. BMTC met with several NGOs and associations on Thursday and representatives of tech companies chipped in with their inputs on scope and schedules for April 7.
[Link from TOI]

Autorickshaw’s

Prasad Govenkar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:36:48 +0000

This is one word which can only bring a sense of detest to one’s mind, primarily to those in Bangalore. A sheer size of seventy-five thousand and above, that’s the number of these three-wheeler vehicles which swarm the whole of Bangalore. Every person who lands in Bangalore, except for a few firangis, would have definitely traveled in this victorious vehicle. During their initial days in the city this simple three wheeler would be the sole mode of transport until they try out either the Bus Service or go for a private vehicle, which is decided more by earnings point of view rather than choice.

Whatever be the case, love them, hate them but just can’t ignore them. We need them sometime or the other. The drivers are a pure menace [Though I must say I did find one good soul, and there are such exceptions] on the road. No road sense, no traffic sense , faulty meters, 1.5 rate during rains and when it turns to get darker , double fare during morning or late at night, and refusing to come for no given reason. These are some of the complaints that we see from everyone using this princely vehicle.
Though I am not much of user of this means of transport, I have my own set of problems from these miscreants when I am driving the car. From stopping in suddenly in the middle of the road, going slow to block an entire lane on an already congested road, parking their vehicles at the most inconvenient location on the road and corners so as to create maximum problem to other drivers on the road their stories have no end.
So what do we do as our bit from this. The drivers are like Dogs tail, which can never be straightened either by shouting at them or honking.
Here are some of then things that I do. The reasons behind these actions are different though.

[1] Never honk at them. Just a small beep in case they are in your path. If they don’t move try to find an alternative lane. Honking at them doesn’t make any difference towards them , it only increases your blood pressure.
[2] If an auto comes in the opposite direction in your lane, don’t honk . Just stop there and don’t do anything. Leave it to him to find his own way out. Don’t even give him dirty looks. Give him sympathetic looks, feeling pity on him as to where he could go.
[3] If a auto driver refuses to come to your destination, just see the Identity card board on his auto. And that wouldn’t make any difference to them, and most likely they would say , “note down the number and complain”. Don’t say or write down anything, just read his name [90% its the name of some God ] , and then say, “You have such a nice God’s name, I thought that your actions also would be helpful like this God“, and then walk off. Quite a chance that he would come to you.
[4] Try and give drop to someone who normally uses auto for daily commute. That will reduce one user of auto. Else help someone to find a Volvo bus service for his route and encourage him to use Volvo. I have done it to two of my friends. So two less people using auto service. if everyone does their little bit, it could mean a lot less of demand of auto’s, and can translate into a lesser number of them on the roads.

Try out some of these and see if it helps you. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share.

Traffic Woes

Prasad Govenkar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:43:52 +0000

Hmmm, this is one freaking subject, that people would love to hate. Lots has been told and discussed across every newspaper and TV news. But there is no end to it. Nevertheless, I just thought , let me add my 2 cents.
Couple of days back, I saw an article in the newspaper that some folks from the United States Of America are coming to Bangalore, as consultants, to solve the Bangalore Traffic issues. Ok, whatever, to solve or suggest. It is definitely a good thought. But what really bothered me was that, it was never the issue, that we didnt know what the problem was, and how to solve it. There are more than enough suggestions thrown by across all kinds of Media on this. Its just a matter of implementation. That’s where we really lack. When are the concerned authorities really understand this simple fact. Today when I look into the paper again, I see exactly what I had in my mind from the same folks from US. They said, its the simple issues that need to be taken care, and if done ,most of the issues would be solved. I guess if a firangi says something which we have been saying all the time, it might be taken in a better sense. Probably the accent makes the difference. But if these firangis are acting as a catalyst for the betterment of Bangalore, I dont think its a big price we are paying these consultants. The only part pending is the implementation.

Now to add on to the implementation part, here is something which really puts me off. Everyday I travel via the Marutinagar route towards BTM Layout from Koromangala. Those who have traveled on that small road, would clearly know how slow the traffic can actually move on that road. Now the authorities seem to have got a brilliant idea as to how to further slow down the traffic. They have now built 2 speed breakers within a distance of 100meters. I really cant understand the very need of a speed breaker on such a cramped road . Here’s something for the authorities, A speed breaker is supposed to cut down the speed , not to get the vehicle to a standstill. There is no way that the vehicle can go above 20kmph on that road. Please use some common sense.

Ambulances

Prasad Govenkar — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:48:05 +0000

Its a pity every time you hear the sound of the roaring [sometimes quite feeble] ambulances in Bangalore. There is nothing much , you , as an driver can do, nor the ambulance. That’s the sorry state that we all go through time and again. First of all, for a driver, there is no room to move whichever way, and to add to the predicament no one really knows, which side to move. Till date I haven’t personally seen any rules to guide an driver, as to which side of the road should he/she move.

Abroad, especially in the US, there are fixed rules that all vehicles should move onto the slowest moving lanes and leave the fast moving lanes for the Ambulances or Police etc as soon as one hears the siren. So everyone knows which side to move and so does the Ambulance Driver.
Here everyone is clueless. Its only when one hears the siren next to your ear, you start panicking and start looking for place to move. Please post your opinions and views and any rules which already exist on this front.

Worse, people don’t even bother to give them the right of way. Guys, just think that someone from your family is in the vehicle and you can save a life.

I just hope and pray that first of all the RTO makes some fixed rules and secondly makes everyone aware that these rules exist. The sole link that I have found on the web makes no mention as to where should a vehicle move. Please post your views or ideas on this issue.