Recently I had an occasion to travel with Meena, my wife, to Tirunelveli from Bangalore. I had booked a ticket by Bangalore - Nagercoil Express from Bangalore city. The departure time was 11 pm. Enough time to reach the station, and wait for the train to arrive. I thought we could board the train at Bangalore Cantt station - just 6 kms from home. Getting an auto would not be a problem and we could be well in time.
There was a strike call by BMTC (city bus service) and KSRTC (intra- and inter-state bus service) and I read reports that auto drivers were charging inflated fares from passengers. To avoid any last minute harassment from the auto drivers, Meena suggested a call-taxi. I booked a taxi for pick up at 9.45 pm to Bangalore City station thinking that if I mentioned Bangalore Cantt as the drop off point, I may not get the taxi.
We left home at 9.45 and the taxi driver started. Within a couple of kilometers it started raining. Nothing unusual, we said to ourselves. Happens everytime we leave Bangalore.
The strike had brought out all vehicles (private buses, mini vans, cars, scooters, motor-cycles) to the road that day. The road to City station near Seshadripuram was chock full. Massive traffic jam. Nothing unusual there too. Happens most times, but the traffic keeps moving. Would take us 15 minutes instead of 5. But I had not factored in many variables. The Metro construction work had blocked half the road. The signals were turning red without many vehicles crossing it. To top it all, the rain had intensified. It was 10.10 pm and I thought, we still have enough time to reach the station, no worries!
For around 10 minutes it seemed as if we were stuck in the same place. Was there a shop advertising or stocking Fevicol?
After 10.30, I started worrying. I asked the driver as to what other options he had. I knew there was none. The road in front was blocked, the road behind had vehicles of all types piled up. We had to wait. We reached the signal. 10.35. Now before we could cross the signal, it turned red. Cars and vans started coming from all directions. No policeman in sight to control the traffic. Rains unabated.
10.40: the driver somehow managed to take a different route and I asked him to cut across the bus stand to somehow reach the station. Rains lessened near Bus stand.
Free traffic now. We reached the station at 10.52. Train was at 11.05. I hoped the train would be on Platform 1, if not at least in Platforms 2 or 3. It was on Platform 8. We had to climb the stairs and walk some distance. I didn't know if our coach would be closer to the stairs on Platform 8 or further away. As per the luck that we were having, I feared it may be just on the opposite end!
As Meena hurried towards the steps leading to Platform 8, there was an announcement that the train was to depart from Platform 9. A climb up stairs required for those already on Platform 8. Fortunately, there was no train on Platform 9. We relaxed. Our coach position was fourth from the engine, and we were currently somewhere close to the rear end of the platform. We walked on. The train was late and came to the station only at 11.20 pm.
I had my doubts when I saw the train departure from Platform 9. I was talking to my co-passengers and wanted to know if the train would go via Cantt station. They all said, "Yes, we would go via Cantt station." I said that there were no tracks which would lead us towards Cantt side from Platform 8 to 10. They said, no no, this train does touch Cantt station. I thought maybe the Railways have laid connecting tracks. However, the train didn't go via Cantt station. It went via Yeshwantpur. We were all wrong.
I was left wondering... What would have happened to me if there was no strike call? I would have taken an auto to Cantt station and waited for some time and got into a frenzy after realizing my mistake. The strike call by BMTC made us book a taxi, and I instinctively booked the taxi to City station.
There were two persons who were silently aligned with the Unions that day!
There was a strike call by BMTC (city bus service) and KSRTC (intra- and inter-state bus service) and I read reports that auto drivers were charging inflated fares from passengers. To avoid any last minute harassment from the auto drivers, Meena suggested a call-taxi. I booked a taxi for pick up at 9.45 pm to Bangalore City station thinking that if I mentioned Bangalore Cantt as the drop off point, I may not get the taxi.
We left home at 9.45 and the taxi driver started. Within a couple of kilometers it started raining. Nothing unusual, we said to ourselves. Happens everytime we leave Bangalore.
The strike had brought out all vehicles (private buses, mini vans, cars, scooters, motor-cycles) to the road that day. The road to City station near Seshadripuram was chock full. Massive traffic jam. Nothing unusual there too. Happens most times, but the traffic keeps moving. Would take us 15 minutes instead of 5. But I had not factored in many variables. The Metro construction work had blocked half the road. The signals were turning red without many vehicles crossing it. To top it all, the rain had intensified. It was 10.10 pm and I thought, we still have enough time to reach the station, no worries!
For around 10 minutes it seemed as if we were stuck in the same place. Was there a shop advertising or stocking Fevicol?
After 10.30, I started worrying. I asked the driver as to what other options he had. I knew there was none. The road in front was blocked, the road behind had vehicles of all types piled up. We had to wait. We reached the signal. 10.35. Now before we could cross the signal, it turned red. Cars and vans started coming from all directions. No policeman in sight to control the traffic. Rains unabated.
10.40: the driver somehow managed to take a different route and I asked him to cut across the bus stand to somehow reach the station. Rains lessened near Bus stand.
Free traffic now. We reached the station at 10.52. Train was at 11.05. I hoped the train would be on Platform 1, if not at least in Platforms 2 or 3. It was on Platform 8. We had to climb the stairs and walk some distance. I didn't know if our coach would be closer to the stairs on Platform 8 or further away. As per the luck that we were having, I feared it may be just on the opposite end!
As Meena hurried towards the steps leading to Platform 8, there was an announcement that the train was to depart from Platform 9. A climb up stairs required for those already on Platform 8. Fortunately, there was no train on Platform 9. We relaxed. Our coach position was fourth from the engine, and we were currently somewhere close to the rear end of the platform. We walked on. The train was late and came to the station only at 11.20 pm.
I had my doubts when I saw the train departure from Platform 9. I was talking to my co-passengers and wanted to know if the train would go via Cantt station. They all said, "Yes, we would go via Cantt station." I said that there were no tracks which would lead us towards Cantt side from Platform 8 to 10. They said, no no, this train does touch Cantt station. I thought maybe the Railways have laid connecting tracks. However, the train didn't go via Cantt station. It went via Yeshwantpur. We were all wrong.
I was left wondering... What would have happened to me if there was no strike call? I would have taken an auto to Cantt station and waited for some time and got into a frenzy after realizing my mistake. The strike call by BMTC made us book a taxi, and I instinctively booked the taxi to City station.
There were two persons who were silently aligned with the Unions that day!
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