Ouch! Our potty roads...

Travelling makes one think and rethink; the reason,our dilapidated roads. Going out is no longer a pleasure whether you are riding your vehicle or by public transport. The speed breakers are constantly cropping up to add to the agony. They come in all shapes and sizes; no standards, just a lump of tar meant to break your back or the axle. Many of these speed bumps blend in with the road and are invisible to the motorists except when you come close. Result a screeching halt and frayed nerves.
  I really feel we need to get a movement started to demand for better roads, standardised speed breakers and safer road layouts. The local administration should have the power and the responsibility to lay, maintain and improve the roads in their jurisdiction.The people too must be empowered to pullup the local officials for not caring for the infrastructure development of the local bodies.
   The bone breakers and non-standard speed breakers must be removed and well marked standard speed humps must be laid out in well researched locations.

Indian railways...small ways to improve!

Hi! Everyone would have had their share of experience travelling with the great Indian Railways! The world's largest employer has to improve a great deal when it comes to passenger comfort and hygiene. I want to share with you what I feel could be considered to make the travel a more pleasant experience.

         Almost every person has a cell phone and it becomes a nightmare when one runs out of charge during the travel. There are very few working charging points on the train. These are always engaged. There are some arrangements made on the platforms in train stations of bigger cities providing charging points for mobile phones. Every seat should have sufficient charging points for mobile phones irrespective of the class.

        It is an unwritten rule about the timings of the trains; either they run late, get cancelled or delayed for many reasons. It is essential that passengers get to know of these delays or changes in time. This will enable them to plan accordingly. The computerised passenger reservation system has been a wonderful plus for the railways. But the quotas for several categories eats into the normal passenger quotas of seats and berths causing huge waiting lists and lots of inconvenience to the public.

        The passengers travelling in the trains could be updated about the trains travel time, the next station, time left to reach the  next station, delay/ change in train timing by means of a simple LED display in every coach. This will be a big help to the passengers.

         A common and regular problem with the railway coaches is the condition of the toilets, availability of water, medical aid and medicines. The toilet system in the coaches allows the wastes to fall on to the tracks which is a real environmental hazard. This could be addressed by simple modification of the outlets to sealed tanks which could be easily evacuated at stations and hygienically dispensed. A provision of medical attendant, 24x7 pharmacy on the trains would be a life saving idea. The wastage of water could be addressed by providing effective regulator mechanisms and prompt topping of the water tanks.

         Railways world over have transformed the train travel making it a more pleasurable experience. It would be a welcome and long over due change if the Indian railways implement some novel and consistent ways of improving travellers experience.

  What is your say on this?!!!!

Cars to buy- too many choices & difficult decisions?!

Wow! the indian customers has plenty of choices now; be it consumer durables, electronic gadgets, automobiles etc.,
Year 2010 saw a new range of small/medium cars come in from Ford-FIGO, Volkswagen-POLO, Fiat-PUNTO, chevrolet-BEAT, U-VA, Spark, Maruti-New wagon-R, Tata-NANO, Vista, Honda Jazz..Year 2011 we will see; Nissan- MICRA, Toyota-ETIOS, Maruti-Cervo & ECCO, Honda-Brio, Mahindra Reva NXR, Chevy Electric Spark, Tata Indica eV2

Diesel vs Petrol debate continues; well the diesel version of any car would be about a lac rupees higher than the petrol model. If one has to realize the benefits of the diesel-petrol price difference which fluctuates between a 15 to 25 rupee band; then the car has to log at least a few thousand miles per month. If this is done, then within a year of purchase of a diesel car, payback of the extra lac rupees margin would be achieved. But the catch is the higher maintenance cost of diesel vehicles which could start from the third year ( or later depending on usage ) onwards. Besides future deregulation of oil prices could see both petrol and diesel prices for cars comes nearer. Till then enjoy!

Choice to make could be based on
Price, Performance, Mileage, Space, Reliability, Features, Brand, safety

Ford scored a lead over other car manufacturers by pricing the FIGO very competitively. The value for money cool car sweeped off the marutis, hyundais and tatas by notching up a good fraction of the new car bookings. Bookings also translated into deliveries and FIGO lived up to the reputation of a good performance budget car.

Tata Nano hogged the headlines and bookings but it ran into some technical problems which slowed down its run. The bursting into flames brought a spectre of doubt on a otherwise great desi product. It could have been better tested and quality controlled before launch.

Chevy spark presented a snug car which found a section of buyers who were impressed with its attractive low maintenance plans and decent pricing.

The spurt in oil prices always trigger a need for alternative fuel for cars. The mahindra reva electric and electric spark could see a good patronage in 2011, when they are launched. The increase in the range of vehicle per charge and quicker charging times could be the focus...Revas are already doing well in bangalore and other metros.

Already the duo versions in maruti WagonR OMNi,chevy spark are doing well; but the availability of gas filling stations is the hitch.

Many diesel versions of cars like Chevy beat, hyundai santro are on the pipeline...What do feel about this small synopsis? will write more later!

Driving to where?

This takes you through the daily adventures of driving through our Indian roads. This is not meant to hurt anybody's feelings but only the real events which I have witnessed and experienced! I'm sure you too would have such experiences...

The population of vehicles have exploded with so many models/varieties on sale....Yet the roads remain much the same, some widened yet encroached upon, laying of new highways have given us some hope!!!

The two-wheelers are ruling the road now...Take these high powered bikes which accelerate to 60/80 kmph speed in just a few seconds. The Bajaj model 'pulsar', which is now called 'kolsar' meaning 'death bringer' in colloquial Tamil. These bikes have snatched the lives of many youngsters who have sped to their death on the ECR (East Coast Road).

These zippers like overtaking only to stop a few hundred metres away at the roadside. After overtaking, these nitwits steer directly across the overtaken vehicles' path forcing them take evasive action and slow down. While overtaking they seldom honk their horns and zip past very close scaring the living daylights out of the other driver the shivers.

The speed breakers do not break down these dashers who make a standing stunt while just bumping across the breaker. Little do they realise that they are wearing out their neck and spine vertebra..

Potholes and pits on the roads make it seem like driving through a rally mudtrack?! A consolation plaster of bitumen coat comes off in quick time making it compulsory for the driver to make a mental map of the pits and ditch locations to ensure a safe ride.

The main road intersections are a nightmare. Big trucks and other vehicles are parked just on the adjacent sides of the intersection making it very difficult for the driver to view the approaching traffic from the other lanes. This can be a recipe for disaster as the visibility is simply made worse by haphazard parking of vehicles on the sides of the intersection.

Well! you venture into the town, city or village and the going gets tougher, everybody seems to enjoy walking on the road and you need loads of patience if you have to get through without making anybody a patient! Horns or screeching brakes produce a fiery glance and a curse from many a jaywalker!

Take the highway, the simple flick of the headlight means you'd better make way or get rammed. Accelerator is meant to be jammed down and not let go for the fast and furious who just think the road is all theirs not sparing a thought for the rules or others. They jeopardize not only theirs but everyone elses' safety...

If you think driving is a pleasure...Think again, for it is now a pressure ride with uncertainity abound and anxiety untold...everyone would have their own story to tell?!!!