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.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
How can the traffic landscape have a breathing space
How can the traffic landscape have a breathing space
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.
Another way to check the traffic tirade is to limit the number of buses that run. Get the dislocated people running the buses gainfully employed in metro and other sections- metro is in expansion mode - and bring down the buses by a rational proportion. Once the numbers come down coupled with exploring options of shared taxis, the traffic tangent won't be a picture of disbelief. Had the regimes in the past cared to give metro and its expansion the thrust it deserved, the traffic nightmare would have never reared its head. More metro expansion and a solid thrust to metro - even if involves digging up or elevated stretch- should be explored.
Elevated roads from Esplanade to Sealdah (including the Maulaali Junction) should be explored. The city needs to learn a thing or two on metro upsurge as the entire project can be completed in record time.
As newspapers had this report on Esplanade section getting a new lease of life by decongesting the stretch, the vehicles and how haphazard are their movement would be known to the city residents.
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.
Another way to check the traffic tirade is to limit the number of buses that run. Get the dislocated people running the buses gainfully employed in metro and other sections- metro is in expansion mode - and bring down the buses by a rational proportion. Once the numbers come down coupled with exploring options of shared taxis, the traffic tangent won't be a picture of disbelief. Had the regimes in the past cared to give metro and its expansion the thrust it deserved, the traffic nightmare would have never reared its head. More metro expansion and a solid thrust to metro - even if involves digging up or elevated stretch- should be explored.
Elevated roads from Esplanade to Sealdah (including the Maulaali Junction) should be explored. The city needs to learn a thing or two on metro upsurge as the entire project can be completed in record time.
As newspapers had this report on Esplanade section getting a new lease of life by decongesting the stretch, the vehicles and how haphazard are their movement would be known to the city residents.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
As i approach Bipin Bihari Ganguly street
As i approach Bipin Bihari Ganguly Street, bustling and beaming with undiluted energy on any week day, the celebratory mood the city is in takes a toll on the commotion that defines it . With the entire city in the holiday mood, there are fewer vehicles and fewer skirmishes. Fewer are the outings as most are content to step to the nearest pandal than hop to far away ones. THat was immaculately done before the sixth day of the fest with that has a grandeur undercurrent to it.
Can't write, the cafe's kiddish fascination for movies and no proper lights.
Would have preferred to write on some pvt buswallahs and the rash configuration they operate with.
As i approach Bipin Bihari Ganguly Street, bustling and beaming with undiluted energy on any week day, the celebratory mood the city is in takes a toll on the commotion that defines it . With the entire city in the holiday mood, there are fewer vehicles and fewer skirmishes. Fewer are the outings as most are content to step to the nearest pandal than hop to far away ones. THat was immaculately done before the sixth day of the fest with that has a grandeur undercurrent to it.
Can't write, the cafe's kiddish fascination for movies and no proper lights.
Would have preferred to write on some pvt buswallahs and the rash configuration they operate with.
The city and Dharmatolla roundabout by Puneet Rajhans
The city and Dharmatolla roundabout by Puneet Rajhans
The city i reside and Dharmatolla roundabout i take a stroll won't underscore the urgency to my schedule but there have been occasions when the stay has been tempered with the nagging doubt of how i am supposed to bide time. The time that has 24 hours, with ever-widening thoughts that transcend beyond 24. In the morning i came across a movie poster titled "Seven Days". The tag line read: "One Man One Week and One Murder. "
Perhaps a lot can happen in a space of seven days and if this very period one is advised to stay in a place where mobility is not that big issue but traffic constraints on occasions proving to be more than true. The duration of stay is not a record one as this and beyond i have done it earlier; the differentiator being the venturing out i undertook in the past to a new city and then returned to the previous one. There is not much from the papers either given the scale of differences that they attempt to project and the negotiations to broker truce. All looks to be a big farce when fewer seem to be interested in dissension of whatever nature that exists in the Cabinet. Just a note from a junior functionary in the Ministry and look at the administered attempt to give a tangent of a maelstrom. If those on the non-treasury benches are trying to reap a capital out of this, it would be misguided. Because the 2G is already in the quarters of judiciary and let the courts decide on it. Just one whiff of anger from here or one alleged smell of notoriety from there won't give brownie points.
The public is not interested in these spats and sparring bouts; they would be hailing administrative decisions that check inflation and bring a semblance of functioning to government departments that have turned archaic.
As i near one week in the city i desire and long to stay, the accommodation is an issue that continues to drag me to difficulties that i have begun to take in my stride in the normal course. Though the experiences in Ahmednagar over a period of time have been somewhat patchy, the accommodation here in the city is comparatively better except for the commotion that breaks out outside the room in the middle of night or early morning. Others staying in the adjacent rooms are species momentarily dislodged from their permanent accommodation centres and yet to learn the art of tolerable commotion. These little chorus of discontent i have begun to take in the normal course, quite different from the course the Prime Mediator made out the case for. The Prime Mediator has suggested that the Govt would stay on course come what may. The visit to United Nations should not have been taken in the first place nor other govt functionaries should have visited the nation state that is yet to arrest the decline. Here we are faced with an inflation that refuses to recede - and the attempt of the government should be to curb expenditure that draws its strength from potential of people to pay taxes.
The intent should be to contain anything that makes the govt of the day splurge; and once you have done away with discretionary powers of officers and ministers, much of the room for mindless spending would be curbed. How the inflation story began is an old tale but how it would be curbed and that tamed inflation could endure is the necessity of the hour.
Someone in the govt suggested the intent to remodel the railways on the lines of high speed trains of China. Perhaps nothing would be more drastic than this attempt. Because in India it is the masses that travel by railways and let this be the engine of movement of the masses and not for those looking for seamless transition. There are airlines. You try that.
The city i reside and Dharmatolla roundabout i take a stroll won't underscore the urgency to my schedule but there have been occasions when the stay has been tempered with the nagging doubt of how i am supposed to bide time. The time that has 24 hours, with ever-widening thoughts that transcend beyond 24. In the morning i came across a movie poster titled "Seven Days". The tag line read: "One Man One Week and One Murder. "
Perhaps a lot can happen in a space of seven days and if this very period one is advised to stay in a place where mobility is not that big issue but traffic constraints on occasions proving to be more than true. The duration of stay is not a record one as this and beyond i have done it earlier; the differentiator being the venturing out i undertook in the past to a new city and then returned to the previous one. There is not much from the papers either given the scale of differences that they attempt to project and the negotiations to broker truce. All looks to be a big farce when fewer seem to be interested in dissension of whatever nature that exists in the Cabinet. Just a note from a junior functionary in the Ministry and look at the administered attempt to give a tangent of a maelstrom. If those on the non-treasury benches are trying to reap a capital out of this, it would be misguided. Because the 2G is already in the quarters of judiciary and let the courts decide on it. Just one whiff of anger from here or one alleged smell of notoriety from there won't give brownie points.
The public is not interested in these spats and sparring bouts; they would be hailing administrative decisions that check inflation and bring a semblance of functioning to government departments that have turned archaic.
As i near one week in the city i desire and long to stay, the accommodation is an issue that continues to drag me to difficulties that i have begun to take in my stride in the normal course. Though the experiences in Ahmednagar over a period of time have been somewhat patchy, the accommodation here in the city is comparatively better except for the commotion that breaks out outside the room in the middle of night or early morning. Others staying in the adjacent rooms are species momentarily dislodged from their permanent accommodation centres and yet to learn the art of tolerable commotion. These little chorus of discontent i have begun to take in the normal course, quite different from the course the Prime Mediator made out the case for. The Prime Mediator has suggested that the Govt would stay on course come what may. The visit to United Nations should not have been taken in the first place nor other govt functionaries should have visited the nation state that is yet to arrest the decline. Here we are faced with an inflation that refuses to recede - and the attempt of the government should be to curb expenditure that draws its strength from potential of people to pay taxes.
The intent should be to contain anything that makes the govt of the day splurge; and once you have done away with discretionary powers of officers and ministers, much of the room for mindless spending would be curbed. How the inflation story began is an old tale but how it would be curbed and that tamed inflation could endure is the necessity of the hour.
Someone in the govt suggested the intent to remodel the railways on the lines of high speed trains of China. Perhaps nothing would be more drastic than this attempt. Because in India it is the masses that travel by railways and let this be the engine of movement of the masses and not for those looking for seamless transition. There are airlines. You try that.
AS i inch towards Bara bazaar in search of raw perfume having covered the entire length from Kalighat, the search from Bara Bazaar is on foot. i sight Bonanza - Make money make no mistakes Opposite the Mookherjee House is Hollywood Institute of Management. As the search takes me to Tea Board, i am reminded of Jhalmuris and the alacrity shown by some.
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