Delhi: (Still) Connected

My attempt at a predictable description of the state of commuting in Delhi. I wrote it a year back as a Feature for DU Beat. Fact is that when we’re on the road, we’re in this limbo. I read a Tweet a few days back by Ashish Shakya which said something about being Traffucked. The traffic in the city is like the leech they planted on your skin in olden times so that you got rid of your disease. Except in this case, you’re really healthy and the unavoidable travelling in the city is really going to make you succumb to it one day. Being on the road makes the guy in every second car that overtakes you (or is honking in anticipation of racing you to the red light), an “asshole”. You’re doing everything but warming your ass on the driver’s seat, cruising away by smoothly maneuvering your steering wheel and enjoying the beats of the music. It’s ridiculous how we predict that one dent on the car, the day we buy it. The plastic covers are still on the seats, but the paint near the left back door is slightly scraped. It’s waggish when someone says that the ‘traffic’ is ‘ideal’ at midnight. Irony is, you’re still stuck in a gridlock. But you’re happy because you’ll make it through when the red turns green the first time. The chain smoker would wish for a cigarette which never reaches its “fag end” and the last drag is like the magic candle which refuses to be blown out. I’ve got a Brand Name. Name it Traffic.

This one is called Delhi: Connected.

BACK THEN

So let’s accept it. Till a few years back, life was convenient.

There was a school bus that was paid for. There were some parents who went a step ahead to ensure their dainty darlings don’t miss the air conditioned travelling too much. There was the majority who stood in the balcony in their night suits, asking the driver to wait for two minutes after five minutes of the repetitive plea.

AND NOW

So let’s accept it. Life is tough. This crib started a year or two back and is going to remain.

There’s a budget.

There’s a need to be everywhere, there’s a need to fit everything in, there’s a need to convince yourself that you’ve grown up and there’s a need to check everything off that ‘to-do-list’.

All this without commuting?

We’re students and we’re commuting in the capital city of the country. The former brings us a fast life and the latter sprinkles us with distances we always assume will shrink. How we wish the former guaranteed us our own vehicles and the latter provided smooth travel. The reality lies in inevitable dependence on auto walas who can never assure you a safe travel. The reality lies in congested buses where marking a territory for the toes proves to be difficult. Completely ignoring the lack of space they provide, we’ll be kind and give them some space here.

AGONY AUTOS

As students of the varsity, each one of us has a long drawn association with autos and have often complained of being overcharged. A list of some preposterous excuses students claim to have encountered, Pardon the use of a not-so-alien language for authenticity cannot be compromised.

• “10 rupaiye zaada lagenge kyunki traffic hai.”
• “Hum nahi jaenge kyunki sawaari nahi milegi.”
• “Jab se gaon se waapas aaye hai,meter nahi chal raha.”
• “Meter se fayeda nahi hai kyunki chillar nahi hai.”
• “ Wahaan toh jam hai. Aap bhi mat jao.”

It won’t be soon before their importance fades away. Need I say, they’re crawling all over the city. All the whining and tomorrow morning you’ll still be seated on those jazzy auto seats staring at the meter and hoping for it to work.

BUMPY BUSES

They’re frequent, cheap and safe. If you’re uncomfortable, try re discovering the best playlist on your I Pod. The rugged journey will transform into an extraordinary drive. The DTC and Blue line buses dominate bus travel in Delhi. The past few years has seen buses connecting Delhi to the NCR as well. Also with CWG round the corner, the service has seen the addition of low floor ac buses which guarantees an inclination towards the commuter’s comfort, now, high on priority. For beginners at bus travel, confidence is the key word. Be sure of your route and travelling from Point A to Point B will never be a task, left incomplete.

MANIC METRO

It’s still fragmented, but when asked about the amount of relief the Delhi Metro has brought, to the commuters and the traffic alike, one only sees heads nod in agreement. It’s on the verge of connecting the entire city and the city to the NCR and it certainly is doing wonders. The concept is magnificent but admittedly the recent past has highlighted its defects as well. However, the convenience it provides to the students of Delhi University is a glorious achievement. Vishwavidyalaya Metro station of North Campus is a mere twenty minutes from CP which is suitably connected to almost all parts of the city. It has marked its existence in West, East and Central Delhi. Last week saw its gracious entry into Noida. For students commuting from there, the long wait for buses has now been replaced by a simplified card swipe. Saying that it’s widely used is an understatement. The stations are well-equipped, the service efficient and the overall system, user-friendly. The Metro has almost fallen victim to inflation and thus, like any other essential commodity, we got to pay more to use it!

CLASSY CARS

Let’s not be unkind to those who’re lucky enough to steer their own vehicles. It’s not essential for everyone to experience the “tough life”, really. For those bestowed this rare privilege. Realization must not have struck yet, but you can and must at least consider converting your vehicle to CNG. One ride from North Campus, all the way to South will cost you not more than twelve bucks. It fits your budget with ease, doesn’t it? Also, you’re doing your bit to benefit the environment. And if this isn’t motivation enough, catch the next show of 2012!

Two things. One, they’ve taken leaps to make our life easy. Two, it’s our birth right to crib. So amongst all the whining, waiting and hyper-ventilating; amongst all the irritation, frustration and dissatisfaction; let’s not take a moment and instead, do our “own thing” to say cheers to the mad travelling that Delhi has to offer with a constant hope that OUR DELHI, OUR CITY, STAYS CONNECTED.