Bangalore's scourge, Vehicles

Bangalore is one such city, where traffic has become very intolerable. In the past half decade, vehicles have increased manifold, creating more smoke and excessive pile-up of vehicles on every road.

Increase in vehicle numbers means the carrying capacity of the roads, which once were designed to cater to the pensioners, have lost their ability to withstand the load. These roads cant take them anymore. The riders of bikes now drive on footpaths also.

Our city has a road factor, which is all cross roads, bring you to a Main Road. This architecture has now ensured that our vehicle owners have lots of options to skip traffic, drive to reach the main road through each of these cross roads, but sadly it causes jam spreading into all nook and corners. The usage of these cross roads, are endangering the happless residents.

Roads need to be broadened is the often heard salvo. But, how would you do this when buildings and trees stand so tall on the close sides. In this melee of road broadening, trees which are natures' gift to bangaloreans are losing their lives. Most of the beautifuly tree lined roads do not exist now. For eg Bellary road, once had so much tree cover which meant that sunlight rarely touched the roads. This is now history, trees have made way for the new Airport, which is a broader Bellary Road. Reducing tree line have blessed Bangalore with hotter climes, people who hated to have fan's are running to get cover with Air-Conditioners, be it in a car, office or home!

Its time that the Govt freezes newer registeration of vehicles and subsequently have more and better planned public transportation. The BMTC buses should be more organized to run at proper times, bus stops planned at places so that they dont stop traffic, better facilities to customer viz smarter buses, seats, ticketing system, courteous & well trained staff.

Well let me shorten it here... our roads of Bangalore arent capable of handing this huge vehicular capacity. Isnt it time that the policy makers do something about it... wonder what will make them to think of thing

Khaki

This is a very good color to hide the spots left by the hazards of the work. Its mostly in this sense that the brit soldiers devised this. Khaki, probably covers the dirt of these soldiers, but it portrays a very sad image of these staff, it also gives thoughts of a smelly personnel. Listing out some of the various profiles that wear khaki as an uniform 1. Municipal workers 2. Railway lower end staff 3. Bus Conductors 4. Autorickshaw drivers 5. Truck drivers and ofcourse the police staff.

The wearers are some of the most worked out people be it interms of daily chores or the dirty jobs they do and this ugly coloring attire itself conveys a very dull image of the person. Our police staff are some of the most worked out people and they are made to wear this uniform. As lawkeepers the police do an ostensible and a tough job and hence they definitely need to look much better than they do. This attire i am sure, doesnt provide them any satisfaction and hence a better looking business / format attire has to be given to them respecting the importance they are to the society

We all change ... Banks in India

"We all Change for the ones we love ". The Canara Bank advt is very interesting... something that really made me laugh

Canara Bank has gone in for some major rebranding and thus this new slogan. Last night i was sitting on a desk in the Bangalore Cantonment railway station and this new ad was playing on TV. The tamil mother who indulges in learning Punjabi to ensure that her new daughter in law is at ease in the new house.. is the prime part of this ad. This is then portrayed to show, that as this mother changed, the Canara Bank also has changed.

Well in this new age where Banking and modes of banking have undergone a sea change some of our nationalised banks are still following archaic rules or stipulations. Most of these banks claim to be modern in its services and approach. However reality doesnt seem to be the case...

1. HDFC has a great web site for its online banking. However, if you need to utilize the NEFT approved by RBI, then you would still need to approach a branch and then register the payee branch / account. Why then do your provide this half luxury of NetBanking.

2. Corporation Bank also has provides for the above dis-service. Added to this, if you have a Debit Card and then for any service related queries... there is only a single person manned call center which half the time refers you back to the bank. They are equipped to handle only Delivered Yes / No questions

3. Vijaya Home Finance Ltd was merged into Vijaya Bank. This then means, for any new Housing Loan the rules Vijaya Bank which are more stiff would apply as against VHFL. The archaic system, demands that you have a SB Acc in the bank for you to be eligible for Home loan, the other option is that your employer provides a written guarantee for Debiting the salary... well who in this modern age would do that when en-masse Sal credit advice is sent to A bank by the employer.

There would be many more to talk about... When will the CHANGE be total ?

Aboard Rani Chennamma Exp

During the last weekend, couple of friends and I were visiting folks at Raybag [RBG] near Miraj [MRJ]. Traveling to this place 700 km away from Bangalore, Train was the obvious mode of transport and we had only one choice Rani Chennamma Express. The 6589 / 6590 pair is the only train that stops here although 1018 / 1019 Chalukya too travels this route.

Since it was Friday, we went straight to the station and hence plan was that Dinner would be at a hotel en-route or some arrangement at the Bangalore City station [SBC]. From Krishnarajpuram [KJM] we traveled to SBC on the Madras – Bangalore SF 2609. The train was on time, however we were held up at the Outer in SBC for close to 15 mins, that ensured that we were late by 15 mins. On PF 2, we had a quick bite of biscuits & puffs and carried onto PF 8, where 6589 was stationed. PF 5 had a BZA WAM4 stationed there and was basking in the mild lights of the evening.

PF 8 was fully loaded with the passengers for 6589 and PF 7 had another major crowd waiting in anxiety for the 213 MYS – TPTY passenger, the train came in with a WDM of KJM. As soon as the train was motionless, the people were just rushing into the same and I was kind of shocked to see the same. From my observation and regular travel on this passenger train, Fridays seem to be the most crowded day, wonder why although.

For dinner, since there was nothing apart from small packets of Lime rice & Puliyogare that was available on the platform, we decided to try out the food at COMESUM. The experience has left us in bad taste. Firstly the billed items, we realized were out of stock after waiting for about 5 mins and further the quantity and quality was awfully short of need. The chicken kadai literally tasted like Coriander powder juice and the vegetable fried rice was half boiled. Hence we had to purchase Biscuits, Fruits & also some snacks to keep us alive till next day noon.

While making these purchases, 6732 pulled onto PF 6 and the Loco on duty was ED WDM3A #11101. Our train 6589 was commanded by Mr Dippy of UBL, WDP4 # 20007. All excited about the first travel on a train commandeered by a WDP4, I was at the doors wanting to see his hood at each turns. Exactly at 21:15 the bugle sounded its might and we edged out of the station, travel upto YPR was almost at crawling speed. At YPR we almost made a halt, however it wasn’t to be and from there darkness took over and I retreated to my seat with the might of P4 in play on our train. I must say that the speed all along was quite good and we made in time at HUBLI [UBL]. At this station to my great surprise a team of cleaning staff quickly washed the toilets, washbasin and the door walkway, dried it up with a vacuum cleaner and also sprayed Phenyl. It’s a great service and gave a good scented air and also cleaner surroundings.

Loco Performance

At UBL the train had a 15 min stoppage and the cleaning crew made best use of this long stay. From here our journey all the way upto Kyarkop [KRKP] seemed fine but then we pulled onto the loop-line to give way to a passing train and that was a bad stoppage for the train. The Loco 20007 failed, it refused to start-up and finally had to be abandoned here. To our luck I must say there were twins WDG3A of PUNE waiting on the other loop line with a BOXN load. Immediately the controllers swung into decision making and the twin locos came over to our line, removed the dead beast, moved him over to the other line… came back took charge of our train. In an hour’s time, we were on the track again and at an amazing pull & run. It was completely different when we were on the WDP4 as against the twin WDG3A. The acceleration out of platforms were so quick, that I almost missed my steps at Alnavar Jn [LWR], considering that stops at stations after Hubli are less than a minute and that a station is at every 20 – 30 kms, I felt the twin locos were a good choice J to have replaced the WDP4 at that point. The performances of the locos were quite good to have ensured that we maintained the 1 hr delay all throughout till Raybag, where I alighted.

Stations en-route

The route is still a single line and this provides for lot of crossings. Almost all stations wear the remote looks, low & short platforms, and station masters office below platform level. Also, the roof above the platforms are just to cover probably few coaches… even AC coaches would have to stand Sun & Rain J. Ghatprabha has two platforms however only one seems to be used. I could spot the old model towering water tanks fully made of granite blocks at many stations. The customary bell ringing to warn and start trains were prevalent everywhere and it was a nice experience to hear them, each station gong having a peculiar tone. Belgaum station seems to be most utilized after Hubli station on this line I must say.

On our way back, the Raybag station was quite crowded and people were waiting for Hubli – Miraj passenger, hauled by a Green PUNE WDM2 #17694. This train is a hugely utilized one on this route and has a pretty complex rake sharing arrangement. Once the train moved out of the platform a modified WDM3D 11224 of PUNE came in light from Belgaum side towards Miraj. The pilot blasted my ear drum I must say. Our train 6590 was on time, behind WDP4 20026, I am not sure if this loco belongs to KJM or UBL sheds. Brief stops and we were on our way with spurts of high speed across the curvaceous and sparsely covered barren land. We were soon at Chikkodi and another passenger train was waiting for us to cross. Our run was quite a decent one and almost at all stations, we were before time hence 10 mins early at Alnavar Jn, 15 mins early at Hubli and thereafter we were still running early but surprisingly post that we reached 1 hour late at Yesvantpur where the trains stops while coming to Bangalore and not while going to Kolhapur. Since i was travelling on this line first time, was quite surprise to see many a WDG4's in twin consists.

The Tumkur – Bangalore line from Hirehalli is almost doubled. We were made to wait at Hirehalli for the crossing Janshatabdi, which fired past us behind KJM WDM3A #14028

As we reached a station called Dodbele, we were again to give way for a crossing 1018 Chalukya Exp, the train was hauled by PUNE 17616.

This station is at the lower end of a valley I must say, to both ends, [ TK or YPR ] you have to climb an up-gradient. We soon reached Chikbanavar where the Hassan line is almost ready and the bridge on river Arkavathy is visible from the TK line.

We finally pulled into Yesvanthpur [ YPR], where we alighted and spotted KJM WDM3A # 14047 connected to YPR – TATA and in sometime the HWH – YPR came onto PF6 hauled by KJM 17995.

Photos : http://railtraction.fotopic.net/

Videos : http://is.rediff.com/searchresult.php?query=irfcavib

Conversation in a Locomotive

Folks.. its always interesting to note, what goes on inside the locomotive of a train. The communication between the Driver and his assistant. Here below i have provided a note as given by a IRFCA member, Mr Venkat Adurty

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The Guard kicks starts the process to start a train from the Halt. The Assistant Loco Pilot [ ALP] checks briefly if not too many passengers are trying to get in. The Loco Pilot then says "right" and starts moving. Once the entire load (rake) is on to the main line, the guard's voice crackles for the second time on the walkie-talkie saying "XXXX up/dn on mainline right" and the LP starts to accelerate.

Therafter the ALP keeps watch of the approaching signals and speed restrictions and announces the same to the LP. The LP while at the controls, on his part repeats the annoucement followed by a "RIGHT" as an acknowledgement.

The ALP honks at approaching level crossings, any infingements like cattle and people and exchanges signals at each station and passing trains. In routes with old signaling, he also has to collect the 'key' (token) at each station. And yes, at each halting station, the ALP gets down to conduct a brief check and acknowledges about everything being in order.

Therafter, the conversation is largely informal about colleagues experiences and events. One comical part is the trite way they say "right" as acknowledgement as it saying "rogers" to a given flight command!!

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Pricey Bengaloooru

Skyscrapers coming up in Bangalore is no more a phenomenon.., however cost of land going up in my opinion is now a phenomenon. No where in Bangalore city do you find property prices anywhere less than 800 INR per Sqft. Flat prices start upward of 20 lakhs, the reason of this price is something that will need analysis. Again if you were to ask me, someone who didnt know the basics paid a huge sum of money to purchase the flat and then that baseless price became the basic price.

Last month, i was just enquiring prices on the eastern stretch of Bangalore... surroundings of Rammurthy Nagar, Kalkere, NRI colony etc. Land price is at 850 - 1200 per sqft, which makes it about 12 lakhs keeping the upper bracket. If you construct a ground only house on that property, then the cost should be around 22 - 23 lakhs. However, i was asked 35 lakhs and the bargain narrowed down to 27.5

The east bangalore property rates are soaring inspite of the slow down in economy. Whitefield is another hotcake. In all people who make the best in this deal is the Real Estate agent. He is to get 2% as the brokerage fee and inorder to enhance this fee, the seller is made to quote a higher price. Since the price is so high, either people dont buy or its just that they get duped.

What is it that is making Bangalore so costly... flats are just being made like there is no construction cost and sad to see on most of the real estate websites many a hundreds of such flats are on sale. Income tax rebate is one of the most compelling factors which is making people buy properties, but should the real estate dealers just keep hiking the prices like there is no tomorrow and as such alienate a mass clientele.

Schools with FM Radio !

Education used to be for the elite classes in an era. However, now you would find hundreds of schools sprouting in all corners of India and specially Bangalore. I would categorize them as Small Scale, Medium Scale & Large Scale Education Ltd. These are the organizations set-up to impart education to all, however money raking is the end motive which goes hidden from public eyes.

The Govt of India is driving seriously its educational program, "Sarva Sikshya Abhyaan" [which roughly translates to Education for All ], sadly the sarva shiksha i feel is getting stunted to the cities. In every cross you would be able to find one or the other school. 15 students, 3 teachers, 1 lady to clean & also gong the bell.. this is the scene of a school nearby to my pad. All the time the children are screaming, giving a noisy peace to the inhabitants on the street, there never is any proper classes being conducted... the children at the most are enjoying this break to scream, fly paper planes, chalk out the walls.

Add to this, an FM Radio is played so that children gets a 'much required' break from studies. Well what more can you ask at this tender age, what an exposure you get .. awesome. Do we then start some cinematic song classes too in schools.. won't it give your children a much needed break from studies while at school, after all at home they are only studying movies & soaps that are dished out by the ever increasing number of TV Channels.