Delhi could have been an ideal capital

Delhi could have been an ideal capital

If one were to forget the parliament and the squabble, there are other histrionics that call for urgent repair. Residents of the city seek a just order, the order that doesn't trample on their rights. City's segregation could be huge depending on the locales you stay and the civic amenities that come along.  Delhi's boast is on account of being the capital with a political pulse and a centre of navigational aids- the direction the business should take, the upshot the trading activity should embrace and the inflation that should be a riding concern or just a momentary lapse. Here the national  capital and its significance is well documented by the threadbare discussions , streetwise protests and and more than occasional collection of men face to face with those in the khaki.

From a reliable public transport 

This is the very city whose public transport was the cheapest and reliable in the 70s and 8os. Commute was not much of a problem and dynasty the political sphere talked about were few and far. The political assertion was heavy and assertive, the assumption that the business environment could succeed minus the political patronage was difficult to figure out and all  the licensing and the unfolding leverage that political wise men could indulge in was to give a longevity to their political innings and that of their bosses. A period heavy into state intervention, the man on the street too believed that whatever little desire he flaunted to gain he could get through "appropriate interventions". Unlike other cities of the country, the capital's clamour to remain on top was a seamless achievement given the politico-business convergence off and on. The city had few inhabitants and a few raise that the income class could see coming, the inducements for others to abandon their homeland and pitch their tent here was minimal.

As the city opened and the liberalisation legitimacy wind that swept the city and the country alike, the host that national capital was more than visible. A political paraphernalia (host of political leaders trying to take under their wings activists who wish to be a politico with a rider of sorts)  was close on the heels of business contingents that converged here from the country and beyond.  As for any capital city, it was equally true for Delhi when investment bugle had been sounded.  Investment (FDI)was the benchmark of success with most perceiving this as the legitimacy they desired but been denied and the windfall in income was seen as a course correction. All gadgets and give aways were grabbed by willing hands not realising the wrong precedent it was setting. Sectors after sectors in the industry believed FDI Fun was here to stay and the stock market sensation drove many to that fray. From where and at what level the resources(read money) had been arranged no one bothered; most wanted to soak themselves in one-and-a-half decade investment evolution.

Transport sector sees an upheaval

The early 90s picture emerged like this. The first aftereffect was dissonance. Private entities joined the transport business and redlines and bluelines in Delhi had a colossal impact on lives of its residents. The number of victims in a year was more than what the city would have seen in any decade. Yet their free run was undiluted and unchecked. Prior to this with more migrants coming to the city and more from within the city taking shelter in areas not recognised by the govt. , the entire cacophony was on "more the merrier". Migrants take was back home the earning potential in states like Bihar, UP and Rajasthan was not there given the "jungle raj" and a lacklustre administration that appeared to have a novice approach to pending issues.

Migration from other places

On fewer occasions since the 70s these states made an honest attempt to revive themselves as unsplit house (bihar from Jharkhand and UP from Uttaranchal) gave them enough elbow room to keep their critics at bay. Since power and water scene was equally bad in the entire country, they took the line that law and order and its improvement in their states was a gradual process. Law and order in states like Bihar has improved with a responsive administration in place. But this has not deterred the flow of migrants to other states as jobs are few due to lack of a strong industrial base.  The income potential that delhi and its roundabout had seen was not hard to miss and so was court's intervention that pollution-spreading industries would have to cede ground to residential establishments in the city. There was a furore and those having led their three -fourth of lives on that hope, a new life with a new set of challenges was the least they could reconcile to.

The vicious circle that trapped many

A new battle had begun as the number of personal transports and those plying diesel fumes emitting vehicles was rising by the day. The govt of the city was more geared to get more more private operators in business, never a thought sprang that govt.buses and their fleet could be revived. The change that came about led the single screen theatres turning to multiplexes, more and more private schools and colleges getting registered and an upheaval that led more to a vicious cycle that if you don't earn more , the pleasures of a "private setting" can't be experienced. Effectively put, a private home that had all the trappings of a modern establishment (from gizmos to swimming pools) thereby giving a fillip to the real estate that least deserved, a private vehicle that need to be exchanged for a new one every six months, a private school for your kin with no concern whatsoever on exorbitant school fees. A private high degree college from a developed world for their children was what most with corporate seduced pay structures desired. Even majority of those who did not have resources turned to banks - and there was no end to their scale of succumbing to temptations.

As govt. employees with a salary not commensurate with the expectations they had began to flaunt, the scams and  accompanying stunts became order of the day. In effect the sixth pay commission came and with its implementation the demand-supply dynamics underwent a sea change. Well the private sector had already ruptured the dynamics and the new pay structure led to a total assault. Assault was not only on the economic fabric, the political fabric too got the undesirable windfall it least deserved. With a background in running social groups and other businesses, the political sons/ daughters gained entry to political theatre. Charges of graft were flying fast and with their seniors at the helm for over a decade these sons and daughters had a seamless entry to positions of power. Instead of probing into their deeds committed in hosting big events, they set out to target others by using the powers they have at their disposal.
As for power/water hike, what the authorities don't understand is that a govt servant may well accept the  hike as nothing is going from his pocket. The moment he is not a govt servant, the pressure that would be on him to get a new high-paying job or the pressure that he would bring on his sons/daughters to take high-paying jobs would be tremendous.  Such hikes do such ruptures.

In the city most believe that if one wish to do a business, trading activity and an assignment, the thing to bear in mind is that only right connections matter. If one wishes to highlight the irrational hike in power/water tariff, there are ways to silence the protest. With the govt intending to raise petrol price by another 5rs to be followed by diesel and LPG, like in any  other city this city residents too would suffer in silence. A politico and his family who has built his fortune in politics and politics alone or a bureaucrat or his family who has built his empire during govt stint would never be able to understand the rupture these hikes bring. Such hikes make more and more people amenable to undesirable influences and a fall in a vicious cycle that no one desires. A beginning from our end where we use the public transport the most, use lpg to the minimum and try to inculcate in young ones that a govt. school is a good option is the least we can do. Private schools could be tried where there is a broad understanding that fees are within limits and if need be either pa or ma could take classes in subjects - provided they are moulded to that end - to see that any raise for entire school is avoided. Hard target but achievable

There are millions who don't take ticket from a bus conductor as the bus conductor says that this bus does not have stoppage for such places and yet would be stopping the bus are doing disservice. All commuters should insist on a bus ticket. Similar should be the conduct in the trains. A beginning from our side could make a difference. A whimper of protest here and a whimper of protest there won't yield much.

Points in order
- elections 2014 should be preceded by a round where a majority opinion on which all contestants they would like to be in the fray. Say two names come up in a finding for every constituency. Then the two names can be contestants along with other party candidates. It is not possible in all 543. Begin this exercise in 150-odd constituencies. It may have loopholes but it can get a success where a candidate comes who uses the MP Local area fund to its logical end and the one who is not tarred by votebank and caste considerations. A difficult approach but can be tried.

- insist on a railway/bus ticket. one taking a general class ticket and entering the sleeper class should be made to pay according to the distance travelled. Say the passenger with a general class ticket and is in sleeper class he should be asked to pay upfront 200rs for 300km and between 200 and 250rs up to 500 km and 500km and beyond 300 to 350rs. The receipt issued would be waiting/boarding receipt for a general class ticket holder who is in sleeper class. No seats would be given but he has the liberty to stand and sit in the aisle and in areas near entry/exit points. If the commuter is able to find a seat for himself well and good. Otherwise he can travel in a sleeper class with a receipt duly issued by tte. This would stop the fleecing of  the general class ticket holders who wishes to be in sleeper class and yet has to pay to tte and doesn't get a receipt. Mind you here the sleeper class seat is not being given; a receipt is being given to stay in sleeper class.

Reports in a section of press on envelope

According to reports appearing in a section of press which is under no stress, the visit of China's defence minister to India went unnoticed till the envelope puzzle brought an element of justice.  As per a report the minister while travelling from mumbai to delhi kept quite all the while and when his aircraft touched delhi where he found most who were outside the aircraft with a big belly could not prevent himself to tell the indian pilots who had flown him to be in the same belly of things - sound health - and to ensure this he was handing one envelope to each pilot  (there were two pilots in all) to see to it their health gets the requisite highlight.

China and the neighbouring and diverging nations that surround us or have an intention to surround us have been alarmed at the regularity of indian pilots going on a strike without informing the pilots of neighbouring countries. Pilots going on strike and even not willing to return to home during strike period puzzled the volunteers and volunteers willing to be piloteers. As a result pilots of the neighbouring and visible countries spoke to their bosses , who in turn spoke to their bosses visible during day and night that something urgent needed to be done to the deteriorating condition of indian pilots. Following this submission, those enjoying the rank of a minister and those potential and yet not been declared ministers of neighbouring countries have been making repeated foray to india to discuss the pilot fraternity health at length

When the defence minister of china boarded the plane, the first thing he wanted to do was to discuss at length with the pilots the issues they faced. With no mediator on board this did not happen. Before  deboarding the flight , the govt functionary handed the pilots the envelope they deserved, something that had been eluding them for long. It was an expression of gratitude for not having strayed and taken him to a destination he deserved. This the govt. functionary did not discuss with the indian govt. functionary as the envelope had been made ready to be distributed solely after taking the required dosage of rum.

Following this episode of envelope emnacipation, the govt. of india has been flooded with requests from volunteers and vacationers that they too needed to be considered for being taken on board as when a  neighbouring country functionary comes visiting us. 

Reaching Somnath from Dwarka

Reaching Somnath from Dwarka

Before attempting to write about the Dwarka-Somnath journey i undertook, it would be worth saying a word or two about the Dwarka-Nageshwar stretch and the well laid out road.  The road for Nageshwar begins a km before the Advent cinema and going past the rail track which on the right side has the Dwarka station and on the left the track going all the way to Okha. Having taken a chakda, the commute from Dwarka started at 9.41 and at no point in the entire 16.5-km distance  the road appeared to be ruptured or broken. Heavy rains that hadn't visited the region for long may be one factor combined with all probability of a fresh coating being put to the entire stretch. A cakewalk and this was no small consolation.

Leaving Dwarka for Somnath
Before leaving for Somnath i spent some time in Dwarka post office. "Smile you are on CCTV" is what you come across as you wait for postcards to be posted. The said post office is clean and there are fewer visitors. After post cards have been duly marked, i leave the premises not before handing a picture of Lord Govinda to a staff member.

Near Dwarka Post Office
 It is near rabari gate adjacent to Dwarka post office i wait for a transport for Porbandar.  Adjacent to Rabari gate there is a circuit house board next to which stands a std/isd/pco booth. For now this is effective for fax and xerox as std phone is hard to find. People have been flocking the place for xerox and other queries and perhaps the STD delink is due to falling number of customers . Even near the auto stand inside the Dwarka town which has chaar rasta  the STD booth is not functional. Hotel Toran board and a tea stall (strong tea laced with acceptable sugar can be taken from here) define the surroundings near rabari gate  which has on the opposite side bank of india atm, hotel radhika and pooja.

Left Dwarka at 2.05 in  the afternoon and from here somnath is 231, porbandar  98. You go past a hoarding of Tata Chemicals thanks for visting salt city mithapur. At 3.08 harsiddhi temple is accessed and by 3.20 leave the place to come across a bridge nearby which is under repair.  At 3.45 Somnath is shown to be 159. When Porbandar is 9, Rajkot is shown to be 19 ( probably figure 8 is missing; it should read 189). Going past naval base p'dar . Reach outskirts of p'dar at 4.25. From the mini bus the commuters were in we shift to a shared auto as buses have been debarred from plying in the city with an intent to check pollution.  At Porbandar st bus stand which i am in by 4.40 there is an ad hoarding that says "thinking of growth, think of us" . The Porbandar bus stand is under renovation and hope it meets commuters expectations. In fact there are a large number of ST bus stands across Gujarat and Maharashtra that are under renovation or been completed with success.

 Leave Porbandar ST bus stand at 5, go past gujarat maritime board, cycle stand, scooter stand and  birlasagar b gate. When Madhopur is  between 52 and 50.5 km from here  the road lined with trees on either side remind you of the ride between Udhagamandalam and Coonoor near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.  At 6.15 reach Madhopur bus stand and leave at 6.25 .
At 6.35 the bus is on NH 8E, with Somnath 67 and bhavnagar 330.  Before reaching Chorwad at 7.30 there are narrow lanes through which the bus goes and past that there is shri dhirubhai pravesh dwar on right.

 Reach veraval at 8  and Somnath at nine.

The two-day stay in Dwarka (Jamnagar)

The two-day stay in Dwarka (Jamnagar)

The very first hour of my stay in Dwarka witnessed light showers in the town. Having taken accommodation not that far from the temple, the room inside on the fourth floor was spacious, neat and tidy. Surely a welcome departure from the shorter version which i availed in the past. It was a Wednesday and by late evening i had the first opportunity to visit the Dwarkadish temple. This was followed by meals in aarti restaurant which had seen an increase in thali fare by 15rs from last year.

The next day after another round of the temple i searched for mysore sandal soap  - and all possible solutions suggested i would be able to have it from a gandhi provision store. It was between 8 and 9 in the morning when it poured like anything and i was told the intensity of shower was the first of its kind in the past two to three months. The said store opened by nine and i collected the soap and other daily necessities. After taking another round of the temple with the necessities intact, i checked out of guest house with the bag deposited in the store room.

I headed towards the crossing from where chakdas - the most notable mode of transport in the region - could be accessed. By 9.41 i left for Nageshwar going past advent cinema hall and a railway crossing. At 10.12 i was in Nageshwar. Inside the temple the sanctum sanctorum could be accessed with an entrance fee of 210rs. This was almost 100rs more from last year. Taken back by this upsurge i still decided to go inside. With prayers said and written i stepped out after taking out the dhoti which is mandatory. From Shivam studio got the picture clicked with Lord Shiva's reigning statue in the backdrop. The return journey began at 10.45 and by five past 11 i was in Dwarka again.

The Dwarkadish temple gates close by 12.30 in the afternoon and still there was ample time to take a final darshan. Between 11 and 1 the town was splurged with another set of rains and i somehow managed to get back to the tempo stand from the temple. There was enough slush and collection of water on either side and yet one could navigate on foot if patience was not a luxury. This time round in Dwarkadish i managed to get a new pair of pyjamas from c l taylor on devi bhuhan road.

- Balaji Bhawan was the guest house where i stayed.

- anand medical store for taking savlon/dettol.

- opposite gandhi provision store is another gandhi store smaller in size. with writing pads and pens, the store  is manned by a young man whose attributes of honesty and politeness can easily be located.

- the nageshwar temple is complete even without stepping inside the sanctum sanctorum. One can have a better view of the Jyotirlinga from the hall as well.

-  Krishna shopping complex has a cyber cafe which i could not access this time.

- visited dwarka post office near rabari gate for sending postcards. The staff was cooperative                           and the premises neat. "Smile you are on cctv" is the sticker that abounds in the post office.

- swaminarayan temple was one which i failed to visit this time. Whenever a new flag is hoisted in the temple, there is an elaborate spread of prasadam served in swaminarayan temple.
- the never-to-be-missed visits to bet dwarka and okha port had to be skipped as i had to take a return journey by late afternoon.

Dwarka was great and the places i skipped this time could be on schedule as and when Lord Dwarkadish calls me.

Delhi could have been a role model

Power tariff hike in Delhi is highly unjustified

Power tariff hike in Delhi is highly unjustified

Four hikes in a space of 10 months. Who can justify this.

The 26 per cent hike in power tariff in Delhi which came into effect from July 1 this year is highly unjustified. According to reports in papers this was the fourth hike in power tariff in the past 10 months. August last year it was raised by 22 per cent followed by 5 per cent in February this year and 2 per cent in May. And this was rounded up with another 26 per cent hike.

I was not in the national capital so was not aware about any protest breaking out on this issue. But the regulator who has the final word on the tariff hike seems to have a cakewalk and been given a free hand. Most residents of National Capital believe that ever since power distribution went to private hands the hikes have been highly unjustified and irrational. At one end the govt. underscores the need to check inflation and at other end it gives the regulator the freedom it least deserves as far as bringing a power tariff hike is concerned.

Most residents believe that power regulator has secured enough leverage and is making the most of it. It paints a picture where the combined deficits of discoms is huge and there is no other way to bring the deficits down than resorting to a power tariff hike. There can be a middle road . First you hiked it by 22 per cent, followed it by 5 and 2 per cent and finally coming to a mammoth 26 per cent. All in a space of one year. Delhi residents need to take this battle to its logical end and see that a course correction is undertaken. That is highly unlikely and only an intervention of an effective nature coming from residents including those residing on rent is urgently required by uniting and showing displeasure that it is not only hurting them but even those coming from outside and trying to find medical treatment and work here.

 For a household which used to get a power bill in the range of 3500 to 4500rs or even less than that, the power bill comes nowadays showing that such and such household has been consuming more units than earlier effectively translating into a bill of rs 7000 and above. In the past the units consumed would have been less or within a  stipulated limit to keep the bill in the 3000 to 4500 level. Are we to believe that the surge in units consumed gets disproportionately high in one particular month or disproportionately high once the power hike comes into effect? If you intend to continue with this fallacy, the returns that you expect to bring a turnaround to your fortunes will never happen. At least in a country like ours you should be honest and deliver for people for whom you are expected to serve. Regulator can't have the final word. Right from those on a limited salary to those coming to Delhi for work, medical treatment, business and other activities - all and all of them are bearing the brunt of an unjustified and irrational power tariff hike. People are furious because of other factors including inflation. Don't take their patience for granted.

From rs 3 to 3.70 for every unit up to 200 units and from rs 5.70 to 6.40 for every unit for above 400 units. This is steep and few would approve of this. A middle ground is not hard to find.

Reaching Dwarka

Reaching Dwarka

After a day stay in Ahmedabad, the next destination to approach was Dwarka. On a Wednesday morning reached Gita mandir bus stand. The commute was completed in a three-wheeler with the man at the wheels as cooperative as he could be. Buses were lined for destinations like Somnath, Dwarka and Rajkot. The STD booth right behind the bus parking lot was amply helpful with the one manning the same able to place me and seeing me chant Lord Govinda's name he too revealed the opportunity he secured to visit Tirumala in the past. The bus for Jamnagar started at 8.06 , going past stores like Bhutan Products Druk Tirupati Trading Co. and Sardar Patel market identified with a clock tower. This was followed by a Kite museum and a hoarding which triumphed on Aug. Thunder : "Because Aug. comes once in a year. Make the most of it".

On a Desai road there is a soda shop Gandhi 1947 followed by another hoarding "residential plots starting at less than 3.5 lacs". Then there is a satellite station sporting a clock not in a functioning mode. Left Satellite at 8.30 and soon we were on NH 47. Whatever road diversion we came across began and ended in Changodar area. At Zydus Research Centre and roundabout, Dwarka is shown to be 427 km . Around nine the bus goes past Zydus Cadila with people reporting for work. Further down there are hoardings and directions to Sheetal Varsha Internet Village.

First Toll Gate

The first toll gate comes at 9.45 with the board showing Somnath, Bhuj, Rajkot and Morbi falling in the same direction though directions to some are different after Rajkot. When Rajkot is 145 km away we are on NH 8A and a board reads Rajkot National Highway Limit begins. Limbdi is accessed at 10.30 with Rajkot still 118km away. The halt happens at Hotel Avadh for meals with Hemu bhai coming to your rescue on food options. At 11.25 Rajkot is 91 followed by Rajkot 65 at 11.50. Chotila is accessed at 12.10 with clear directions to a Jalaram guest house. With Bamanbore toll plaza coming at 12.30, Rajkot and Dwarka are shown to be 36 and 289 kms away. With 19 km left for Rajkot to be gained i spot a Bihar Tyre service shop on the right side. And when it is 3 km away, the Somnath board shows it to be a 198-km cakewalk.

At 1.18 in the afternoon i am in Rajkot ST bus stand with a halt enough to sight on the back of a three-wheeler delivery van the biscuits with the fame of seesaw, salt kiss and cream 4 run. As the bus leaves, out on a corner is an Ambassador with IA (indian Airlines) sign etched on it with a number GJ-3k 1554. Another car, probably a fiat i spotted in Ahmedabad the other day had GLB-8374.

From here Okha and Ahmedabad are equidistant

Once in the outskirts of Rajkot i come across a new Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, almost on the verge of getting completed. It is at 1.50 that distances between Okha and Ahmedabad are equally split with Okha at 242 and Ahmedabad at 241. Reach Paddhari at 2.08 followed by Khamta at 2.20. In between at 2.10 Jamnagar is shown to be 63 km away. At 2.25 we reach All India Radio Super Power Transmitter Akashvani bus stand. Rain starts at 2.30 to last barely few minutes and later there is another spell of shower.
Stoppages between Rajkot and Jamnagar are: Paddhari, Dhrol, Bejara, Rampur and Jambuda. At 2.48 spot a three- wheeler for the first time on the National Highway stretch. Outskirts of Jamnagar are out and out drenched and deboard the bus at 3.20 at saath rasta in the city. From here head towards teen batti chowk and take masala dosa(between 40 and 60rs) from Madras Hotel. The kalpana restaurant from where i had the meals last time is probably under renovation. Adjacent to Madras hotel are Anand book centre and novelty store among others. Reach Jamnagar ST bus stand just after 4.30 and the ride from teen batti chowk is familiar going past Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, Pradarshan Ground and Vivekananda Garden.

The bus for Dwarka begins at 5 (this bus too has originated from Ahmedabad) with Sikka coming just before 5.30, Reliance at 5.40 and Khambaliya at 6.15 in the evening. In Khambaliya the Revenue building has DC office, Mamlatdar office and subregistrar office. Amongst stores in Khambaliya are Shiv provision, Jay traders and somewhere in between is Rajhans hair parlour, two shops at different ends. Spot a tractor here with a number that probably reads GAJ 787. Most of the passengers get down at Khambaliya ST bus stand and from here there are barely 10 on board for Dwarka journey. Out of Khambaliya by 6.30 and at 7.15 Dwarka is 42 and at 7.35 Dwarka is 20km. Finally the bus is in Dwarka at 8.10 . From Khambaliya to Dwarka the ride is amidst a rain spell with a wavering momentum.

For a journey of over 440 km, the ride on two different buses of GSRTC was smooth enough given the better laid out roads. Signages are plenty and error free. One can cover Ahmedabad-Dwarka stretch on govt.buses and if one does not break the journey, the ride can be accomplished in under 11 hours. An hour in Dwarka and it begins to drizzle.