My fave journey
No its not some exotic place in the farthest corner of earth. Its the journey from home to office and back. Hosur Road. And I'm not being sarcastic. I used to get quite irritated earlier as it used to take me close to 2 hours sometimes to go one-way. But as things usually work out, I have gradually developed an inertia and also as a result of a few permutations (as regards to what is the best time to leave home) I have gotten quite indifferent. On an average it takes me 30-45 mins to traverse from BTM to Electronic City (10.8 km exactly).
I like to look around. Junta on Infy buses (or trucks, whichever you like) which says 'For School Bus also'. People with their earphones tucked in their ears, either listening to their personal music or tuning into Radiocity with Vasanthi or/and reading a book. Some dozing off. Cars going left and right to find 'that' inch of space which would get them to office 'that' 1 second earlier. Its futile. They know it. But what's the harm in trying anyways? Buses that take a 90 degree right turn from the service roads to take another 90 degree left turn. 'Helpers' who have their left hand perenially outside for 'that' potential left which might come in the distant future. You were warned - I'm going to take a left you see - even if I might take the next right - aage hoga na koi ek left turn!!! The 'cement-mixer' vehicle which I see everyday just in front of me. Always. The traffic-guy with the huge moustache. He could have an alternative career as the doorman at the hotels for sure. Just needs a turban.
Saw the promise of an 'elevated expressway' in action today, just when you turn right into Hosur Road from Silk Board. Great idea to clog traffic at peak hours. As I was telling a colleague 'I would love to see how these projects work out when I get back to Bangalore in 10 years, but can't stay here and watch them work out'.
posted by maverick @ 10:41 PM
13 Comments:
Had beeen to Bangalore recently n I must say this is the truest picture of the scene there! I got irritated the first day too, but then I learnt thatz the way Bangalore moves... After all, v gotta b Romans in Rome :D
@naresh: it is. they also say Rome wasn't built in a day. Unfortunately, this city is just taking 'that' bit long! :)
I totally agree about the "Buses that take a 90 degree right turn from the service roads to take another 90 degree left turn." and "Cars going left and right to find 'that' inch of space which would get them to office 'that' 1 second earlier."
In fact I just blogged abit ago about the human touch in Bangalore's traffic problem.
http://www.vasanth.in/2006/03/13/BangaloreTrafficTheHumanTouch.aspx
@Vasanth: Nice one. Left you a comment there.
I just moved back to India from US. So while deciding on the job offers, I went to both Bangalore and Hyderabad. Bangalore's infrastructure (or should I say the lack of infrastructure) was a factor in my final choice. I believe Bangalore will start loosing on new investment unless a drastic improvement in infrastructure happens.
@deepak: I too did have an option to work either in Bangalore or Hyd. Having chosen Bangalore I sometimes rue this decision (not on the professional front). Lot of people I know are shifting to Hyd. Bangalore has lost its attractiveness. Add to that the early closing of pubs - you don't have a nightlife too.
Yup, correct picture! I travel on the same road too, I saw the board for the elevated expressway too, and got a shock. The board was near Bommanahalli right? What do we do when its being built? Drive over the shops? :O
but when you think back of the bangalore before the chaos, and the IT boom, you have to believe that once the infrastructure is sorted out (10 years hence or whenever) it should go back to being paradise!! plus they badly need to do a delhi-CNG type thing there, the pollution is BAD!
But to truly appreciate Bangalore you have to come to Gurgaon...i'd happily sit for three hours in traffic to not have to drive among these maniacs and to have to interect with the resident einsteins...
be happy man, at least you have a descent bus and a seat to sit. come to kolkata once, i am damn sure that you will start adoring bangalore for rest of your life.
@shruthi: i have a feeling that they are gonna pull down some of those shops and buildings. how else are they gonna widen the road? and y cant they not fill up that drain? that wud create an extra lane for sure!
@smith: i first came to bangalore in '96 and that picture is so completely different from the one at present. the problem has been not to think ahead and plan for the future. IT boom didnt happen overnight. i have family in gurgaon and thats a complete different picture. but u do get a lot of jams when u want to get into delhi. but thats temporary, till they get those roadworks done and the flyovers completed. bangalore should learn from how delhi's managed its infra. but i also hear delhi gets a huge chunk from the central govt. as most officials stay there! sigh!
@adi: i've been born and brought up in calcutta for the first 23 years of my life and i have had my share of pvt and mini-buses. the thing with cal is to go somewhere u have options as regards to the mode - pvt cars, taxis, buses, autos etc. and different routes to get there. And trust me, its much better now than what it was bk in end of the 90s. as i tell my friends, bangalore's going the cal way and its taken cal a good 5-6 yrs to improve its condition. hope its faster for bangalore.
Suprised to know that the elevated road work has started !! That it was promised to start last April is another matter altogether. With the new CM also mouthing the same Anti IT comments as his illustrious farmer father, it is hightime IT people should start a "Anywhere-But-Bangalore (ABB)" campaign.
For those who are unaware of what Kumaaraswamy said recently should read:
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1016663
This was a headline in the Deccan Herald also. This didn't make it to the Times of India and thus was not a big talking point among the IT people.
@ashok: interesting article. what's funny is that while they don't think twice before shooting off comments, they know pretty well that without the IT industry they won't get the revenue in their kitty!
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