Being a Bangalorean and a driver of both a two wheeler and a four wheeler at that, I can't but help comment on the traffic situation in my city - 'pathetic' is quite an understatement.. I don't think there is quite anything that could describe it.. What prompted me to write this was a desire from a long time that if I could express my feelings on the 'state' of traffic then, may be a bit of the frustration would let off steam.. Of course, much as I wouldn't like to admit it, I know it'll just remain a hope!
Anyway, a couple of days ago I was driving on my usual route - Koramangala to Jayanagar to attend a rehearsal.. I took the 'less' congested of the options - through Adugodi, across the Underpass on Dairy Circle and across 'the worst road in India' - the Bannerghatta Road.. and to Jayanagar from there on.. It was heavily populated this particular day - by that I mean, the traffic had stopped right from the underpass itself. I was cursing myself for not driving slower and taking a de-tour earlier on. Just then I heard a huge noise and some guy honking real loud. Was wondering who it could be when I realised it came from an Ambulance. I looked around quite a bit to see where the ambulance was stuck (as I had all the time in the world and wasn't really going anywhere) and from somewhere the ambulance slowly crawled towards my left. There was a patient hooked on to the IV and anxious relatives around. In its direction it was probably headed to the Cardiology Institute I had no where to go and could not do anything. But what started my frustration the motorist in front of the ambulance seemed absolutely unperturbed by the fact that it was an ambulance that was behind them and seem to just go on making their way (read: pushing their vehicles into every nook and corner available) And one surprisingly inhumane moves that people in such situations make is when others make way for the ambulance, instead of letting the ambulance pass they make their way into the available space!
It took almost 20 minutes for the vehicle to make its way through a couple of hundred yards. And all the time people just refused to make way. And the icing on the cake came when I parted ways with the ambulance's route. Here as the ambulance made its way straight ahead, gaining speed because it finally had a clear path ahead of it. A lady on a two wheeler with a friend on the pillion, overtook the ambulance from its left - made her way right in front of the ambulance and non-challantly took a right turn all the way from the left end of the road to the right!
Two things I learnt from this experience: Bangalore again, will never be the same and beware of Ladies on two wheelers - they are no more the sensitive drivers (as much as this may sound macho!)
Of all short stories PUNYAKOTI wins the Gold medal
10 years ago
4 comments:
Nice one, keep blogging. Shows how deep this probem is and what is going to happen to the generations that will be brought up by these people. if this is the kind of values that we will teach our children then God save us. Its high time that this is checked and the rules are actually enforced.
Very true...I keep wondering, can't such problems be solved...or rather prevented... by having strict driving tests- both practical and theory? But i do doubt the seriousness with which the people would take the test! The "who cares now!" attitude after the tests are done is quite a natural instinct now-a-days! And if we think the police can help, they should be in double number of the non-police population! And who can trust thier sincerity in work? Can't think of how this problem can be helped...should only hope that sensible children are born in future!!!
recently i had been to bangalore. almost all the roads are congested. given the rate of increase in traffic, it would be highly unsafe to drive
thanks for nice write up
Gosh! well expressed, can imagine the level of frustration u were in. Pathetic is the situation indeed and this seems like a never ending problem. Looks like there is no one who can do anything about it.
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