If you are either an above average common individual earning a decent five-figure salary or a person who's from a rich back ground, the above title might look trivial to the issue discussed. I have delayed this post by almost ten months. The reason being that I tried to force this issue to be one among the “tough myths” I have been contributing. So, after a big delay, here is the post.
I was used to travelling from Madipakkam to D.M.S Teynampet 7 days a week through MTC buses during my first year of college to attend coaching classes. Since I wasn't financially independent then, I had to survive the entire month with 200 Rs. That's when I started acting like a crane. There is a saying in tamizh which goes along with what I am referring to. I would stand, stand and stand at the bus-stop waiting for the right bus, the direct one which would take me directly to and from Teynampet/Madipakkam. The following famous தமிழ் saying would best describe me.
I was used to travelling from Madipakkam to D.M.S Teynampet 7 days a week through MTC buses during my first year of college to attend coaching classes. Since I wasn't financially independent then, I had to survive the entire month with 200 Rs. That's when I started acting like a crane. There is a saying in tamizh which goes along with what I am referring to. I would stand, stand and stand at the bus-stop waiting for the right bus, the direct one which would take me directly to and from Teynampet/Madipakkam. The following famous தமிழ் saying would best describe me.
ஓடு மீன் ஓட உறுமீன் வரும்வரையில்
வாடியிருக்கு மாம் கொக்கு
Or in English, like a crane waiting long and hard to all day peck on the right fish!
I would start early from home, never missing a single direct bus and would start early from class too to catch the direct bus at 8:45 p.m often missing the last few minutes of class with the direct bus in mind. But, it was always a safe bet. Eventhough I would be crushed in the crowd which boards the bus at stops such as Teynampet, SIET, Saidapet and Guindy, I would always walk back home with the last laugh that I saved the extra 3 Rs. in waiting for the direct bus. This even led me to save a few bucks off the monthly allowance given by my parents.
Nowadays, after earning a decent five-figure salary and being able to survive independently with respect to finance, I realize that the situation has changed by a big margin. I am no longer able to calculate the expense it would cost of travel from Madipakkam to Teynampet. The colour codes have changed in the sense that you are no longer able to distinctly identify and distinguish the economy-class and the business-class buses. You have the usual green coloured bus, the one representing the economy-class and the other buses which vary in colours from orange, red, yellow, golden yellow, brown and white. But, why are there so many colours?
Nowadays, after earning a decent five-figure salary and being able to survive independently with respect to finance, I realize that the situation has changed by a big margin. I am no longer able to calculate the expense it would cost of travel from Madipakkam to Teynampet. The colour codes have changed in the sense that you are no longer able to distinctly identify and distinguish the economy-class and the business-class buses. You have the usual green coloured bus, the one representing the economy-class and the other buses which vary in colours from orange, red, yellow, golden yellow, brown and white. But, why are there so many colours?
We have a Blue-coloured 18 D which charges you 6 Rs. Till Saidapet, 9 Rs. Till Teynampet and 10 Rs. Till LIC. And, all these charges vary based on the electronic machine in the hands of the conductor. If he has his usual skin bag, it might turn out to be more economic for you. In addition you have these “Air conditioned” buses giving you the hint that our metropolitan city has grown into being similar one of its world contemporaries with see through glasses, highly maintained seats and look who's driving? The driver's costume resembles that of an AI pilot or some one similar to him. With automated doors for closing and opening at the hit of a switch by the bus driver, these buses look luxurious enough tempting any average individual to just peek-in and have a look at the modernizations. But, has it really served the purpose?
It would cost a minimum of Rs. 18 or more for someone to travel from T.Nagar to Tambaram in one of these “air conditioned” buses. Whereas in the usual, ordinary, green colored one, it wouldn't cost more than Rs. 20 for one to travel to and from T.Nagar/ Tambaram. Who are these people trying to convince?
It would cost a minimum of Rs. 18 or more for someone to travel from T.Nagar to Tambaram in one of these “air conditioned” buses. Whereas in the usual, ordinary, green colored one, it wouldn't cost more than Rs. 20 for one to travel to and from T.Nagar/ Tambaram. Who are these people trying to convince?
If collection of revenue is the government's sole purpose, then why aren't all buses having a single defined set of fares to travel across? On one hand, you have the upper middle class and the high class citizens wondering at the advancements made to the modernized look of buses. One needs to note that these citizens are those who seldom use the public transport only when their bikes/cars go on repair and those people who travel in cabs to their places of work who take to these buses once in a blue moon for whom the fares don't matter as the companies are ready to reimburse the expenses incurred. On the other hand, you have the lay-man wondering at the facilities available to one section of people of the state and feeling bad about his own financial state. Doesn't this instill financial discrimination into the society?
One might argue keeping in mind the economy-class buses which are in service. But, are they regular? Are they scheduled to be regular. I would like to quote one incident here. Last Diwali, my parents and I had gone on a trip to Kancheepuram via Tambaram. On our return, we got down at Tambaram hoping to catch the bus which starts taking us to Madipakkam around 1 p.m. But, what a surprise! There were two buses, those green coloured economy buses waiting after a brief lunch break. The drivers weren't ready to start them off. Ten passengers excluding us were waiting to get home and it happened. There came one of these buses, differently coloured(didn't remember the colour) bus operating with automated doors. Once the passengers got down, it was ready for its journey back to Tambaram, skipping the recess for lunch. We, after having 20 minutes under the hot sun, had no option to take the bus costing Rs.7 to Madipakkam. Forget our situation. Three of us had enough money to support that journey back home. What about the lay-man? What if he had only Rs. 5? Does it mean he has to wait for these kind drivers of the economy-class buses to start? Doesn't his time have value? What if there was an emergency beckoning one of us?
One shouldn't forget the state of the so-called economy-class buses. Many of them have raised footboards making it all the more difficult for ladies and the aged to alight the bus, whereas all the expensive buses have a low platform enabling easier getting in for the passengers. This seems to be serious injustice to the people who are below the poverty line.
This would definitely serve the purpose of gaining higher revenues thanks to those people who don't mind these, but this would only widen the gap between the sections of people. And, having identified one financially strong policy neither the ruling party nor the opposition party would be ready to pull this off practice as it has been either the ruling party or the opposition party ruling the state alternately since 1987. So, if one of the parties sees such a duck yielding golden eggs, they would never be ready to cut its neck, leave alone trying to worsen the current state.
This would definitely serve the purpose of gaining higher revenues thanks to those people who don't mind these, but this would only widen the gap between the sections of people. And, having identified one financially strong policy neither the ruling party nor the opposition party would be ready to pull this off practice as it has been either the ruling party or the opposition party ruling the state alternately since 1987. So, if one of the parties sees such a duck yielding golden eggs, they would never be ready to cut its neck, leave alone trying to worsen the current state.
Kindly remember that I am not against modernization of buses or the governmet. What I expect is a more unbiased approach from the ministers making the city the best to travel around.
After reading all this, one might still point fingers at me for having a negative attitude, not recognizing the efforts by the government in modernizing the buses. I would request them to think again. Any system which is biased, which supports the strong section of the society would go on only to create anti-social elements out of civilians (touch wood) because once the weak section wakes up, revolution would be banging on the doors and would take not long enough before the backs of these men are removed so that they realize the significance of the differences caused by them.
After reading all this, one might still point fingers at me for having a negative attitude, not recognizing the efforts by the government in modernizing the buses. I would request them to think again. Any system which is biased, which supports the strong section of the society would go on only to create anti-social elements out of civilians (touch wood) because once the weak section wakes up, revolution would be banging on the doors and would take not long enough before the backs of these men are removed so that they realize the significance of the differences caused by them.
Jai Hind!
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