The Bus Number 46 originating from Esplanade

The Bus Number 46 originating from Esplanade


Esplanade, College Street, College Square Bidhan Sarani, Vivekananda Road and Tegharia. That' s how the bus number 46 traversed the length and breadth of the city. It was late in the afternoon when i boarded the bus with the consolation that window seat could be easily accessed and the aisle looking less congested. The seat was comfortable and the occupants secured by the thought of bus travelling through different Puja Pandals. The most breathtaking looked to be College Square despite the fleeting glimpse all that i could capture.
THere were a host of shops on books, sweets and and some on grooming centres for men and women. Probably on Vivekananda Road i came across adda coffee hoarding atop a building followed with the tag line of coffee-cum-gossip adda. What could the city and its denizens gossip about when one is hardly left with any energy when s/he returns home in the evening after having put up with a traffic rigidity that is hard to configurate. Perhaps the attempts being made now could have been made in the past to bring a semblance of normalcy to traffic environment.

The air is thick with pollutants and there are stretches and more that define the deteriorating landscape. This landscape can be retrieved as any semblance of normalcy to traffic scenario was never thought of in the past. The city could have a likeable quotient for the affordable imprint it leaves beginning with meals, clothes to accessories. But there are areas like rentals which are not facing downwards and a traffic, despite measures like involvement of volunteers, not the best to showcase. THe attempt to step out may be tempting but tempered with the undercurrent of a traffic that is unmanageable and hitting you in the face in some areas.
The best illustration of the deterioration is the B T Road stretching from Dunlop and beyond to Sealdah and beyond. This B T Road is a living example of how authorities in the past never cared to visualise the deterioration as the comfort of being in power for over 30 years gave the establishment the authority to give a damn to traffic and the sense encircling it. Perhaps among remedial measures should be movement of shared taxis, no sole movement of any kind would be entertained, levy to be imposed on personal transport- possible by any yardstick- and a ban on movement of trucks and the accompanying entourage during the day time . Perhaps some of these measures could desist the people from taking this route.

When i reached Dum Dum, and the bus stranded underneath a flyover, walking was the best course i could employ with the reservoir of pollutants thick in the air. Mozumdar Para was the place where the idol was to be placed and the entire event to be organised by Hindustan Volunteers was the information that trickled in during my wait for the return bus.
The enduring wait for the bus in the vicinity of Dum Dum with fewer exchanges that could break the dilemma of going all the way to Birati or hang in there to get the desirable transport. Moments later i sighted the Dharmatolla bus, and lucky enough to secure a seat. The bus was at its pathetic shape of movement given the long trail of vehicles ahead. Sighthing was the best tool to employ to bide time. Kendriya Vidalaya Ordnance Factory Dum Dum was the first structure i came across. It was Jessore Road Dum Dum, and aligned along shops of battery company and the hanging board of Lecturer and Visiting Physician. There was a hoarding of LIC underscoring the policy for different age groups. This was followed by Asia Pacific Travel (Rail and Air Ticket Booking), Dreamland Coaching Centre, Kolkata Florist and Smile Dental Clinic. Perhaps the dental clinics in and around B T Road galore and herein it was no different.
The most enduring hoarding read: "Grab Jobs in Big Companies" . Followed by Aristocrat Gents Parlour . The bus takes a right turn and we are in Dum Dum Bazar Nager Road . THere is a big hoarding of Full Toss 20 per cent extra for different flavours: Jhalmuri, Green Mango Chatni, Masala Munch, Masala Kachori, Tangy Pickle. The road adjacent to Basant Sweets sees the occupant of the one seated next to me getting down. Before getting down the eye movement near the door says it all but the man on my trail seated behind gives me no room for interaction and parting is painful. But the prayer from my heart for the bong should be enough. This season of crush control is followed by more and more sighting of hoardings. One reads Somalia Air in Dum Dum New Market. Others are Medi-guard Chemist Druggist, Studio Sentos Photo Graphics and Photo Framers, Rama Krishna Wood Works (all kinds of modern furniture), Life The Passion Cyber Cafe.
Later i find collection of people along Abasik Welfare Society. As the bus moves further, there is Bhola Nath Sha Ration Shop, Prasannalya Ladies Tailor, Sankar Medical Stores, Seha Varieties( Jewellers)

There is one on Drink Tara's Special Darjeeling Tea somewhere in the Dum Dum New Market but as the bus turns towards the B T Road there is Cossipore Tel. Exc. followed by Moto Zone (next to a PCO centre). Finally there are shops/ offices like Swapan Engineering Works and on the Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road there are likes of Calcuttal Lodge followed by Indostyle (accessorise yourself) , C K Stores - The Daily ice cream and School of Computer Education/ School of Library Section. Opposite to this is University of Calcutta.
The A C Road brings you face to face with hoarding of Federation Cup 2011 Live and Exclusive on News Time, MIES - Specialist in School Service Education, Angel (care for your loved ones) .
As i near the Sealdah station with the clock showing 19: 40 . The hoarding of Allahabad Bank superimposes the Station building. One hoarding is of B.Com/LLB? Be a tax consultant. Opposite the Sealdah station is hoarding of G K Sports - Chowringhee, Ballygunje, KYD.
Having reached Maulaali Junction, there is Neogi Bylane, Hare Kumar Tagore Square as the bus inches towards Esplanade . On this stretch there are Jashoda Mishtaana Bhandar, Shubham eyecare, Lakshmi Sugandhalaya, Password and other such ones.
Sighting was the preferable tool as nothing else can be managed in the city where post meals and post tea nothing constructive happens.