Let’s play NFS ...

One fine day, I realized that I should buy a good, sophisticated gaming console and play my favorite ‘Need for Speed (NFS)’ for ages. Of course, I feel eligible enough to buy and play such action packed games. NFS is a game where various cars struggle to complete their lap in minimum possible time while chasing and maneuvering through tensed pathways. You get scratches, dents, and sometimes get abused by the trailing drivers. At least 2 years of my familiarity with Hyderabad roads have made me eligible for all these kinds of extreme conditions…so why shouldn't I buy such games..!!!!

I am talking about the complex traffic conditions in Hyderabad that made me write something about this (sorry for misleading title). I had been staying in this city for more than 2 years and during these years the traffic sense had worsened from bad to worst. On my drive from my house at Banjara hills (one of the few posh area left in this city) to my office at Madhapur (place that reside lots of IT companies and lots of employees, nobody is unemployed in this area..!!), I could observe so many variations of the traffic that left me in state of astonishment. I must say there are only 2 kinds of vehicles that can survive such evil conditions- bikes and auto rickshaw.

The species called ‘auto rickshaw’ is a triangular piece of vehicle with pin ball attached to its front. It is ideally suited for high populated cities where 6-7 people can easily be accommodated in a place meant for 3. Normally it becomes difficult to locate the driver in the horde of passengers squeezed in. Very often its indicator lights are either missing or malfunctioning. So all while driving behind/beside this species, you need to keep a faith on your luck and institution and anticipate their moves and sudden turns. And don’t be jealous they can drive at a reckless speed at which you can’t even imagine driving your dear vehicle

Second vehicle that I am found of is bike, motorcycle. Today it’s very common fashion to drive while listening to FM radio or talking over cell phone. I would say it’s a reply to latest Idea ad with slogan “drive when you talk”. More often these species could be seen in the middle of the busy roads with their head leaning towards left. But I must appreciate that these bikes contribute towards saving the space available on the roads by squeezing in to fill every inch of space during jams, crossing or whatever.

You really need to have sense to drive in 4-dimensional traffic. There are places where you need to look around in 360 degrees to save yourself from impounding traffic. While talking about the crossing which I had mentioned sometime ago, I haven’t seen any zebra crossing or zebra crossing being obeyed in this city. May be I am too innocent to expect these things in this country. People start protruding from one bank of road and continue sliding across the road to reach other side of it. And during this you might be left wondering whether you will be able to make it before they can cross the road. But ultimately I would seriously like to salute the guys who join the traffic from left road without even looking at coming league of traffic from right. These are the real heroes of nation who don’t fear of any disasters

It feels pain to know that Hyderabad being a famous cyber city is hosting such kind of traffic conditions. It’s really not safe to drive in composed manner. We can’t even compare these conditions with international ones keeping in mind that the population has overgrown in few past years. I know there is no possibility of a quick fix solution right now, but realization would be sufficient.

By this time am sure you would agree that I hold all the necessary qualifications to buy and play the video games that I experience daily on roads

Floods...boon for atleast someone

"Situation is grim but we definitely need to travel to Bangalore..."

"...But how?? the roads are flooded and the tracks are all submerged"

"Let's see if we can get any flight today or tomorrow early morning..."

"Oh yeah..!! we have couple of them...and it start with 9800 to 14000 per seat..!!!"

Andhra was recovering fast from the CM chopper crash, and then sudden heavy splash of rain marred the 'very' spirit of people. Many villages got submerged in the flowing water and number of people got stranded. The roads and specially national highways got affected by the flowing water. The railway tracks got damaged leaving couple of trains standing still for days..!!!

The only means of transport left was airways. We have numerous airways carriers that can accommodate the plight of travelers. On a fine day you can get a ticket for Hyderabad to Bangalore route for Rs.3000 to 4000 maximum, but today was a special day. It was the day meant for healthy business for these carriers. The same ticket was now priced at Rs.9800 to 14000 i.e. more than 3-4 times than normal prices...!!! It seems to be perfect occasion for airline company to plug their losses. It reminded me of similar occasion 2 years back when I had to travel from Jaipur to Delhi to attend my convocation at IIT Kanpur. At that time, a mere Rs.1500 worth ticket was priced at Rs.11000 i.e. around 10 times..!!! I am sure, Indigo and Kingfisher had a good laugh at the end of day.

But think about the traveler, someone could have a urgent meeting or someone might be holding a breath in waiting. Lakhs of people travel between these two metropolitan cities and instead of providing them a pinch of relief, these companies are extracting the best from their pockets. Where goes the ethical governance during these tough times? I know it's the result of simple demand and supply equation, but aren't assumptions allowed here, haven't these contingencies been planned by airlines? Can't the government expose an upper limit cap on the surging fares to protect the right of traveling for common people?

Is there a way out? I would be consoled if a proportion of this extra money am shelling out for these travels is spend on flood relief projects, but can it happen???

I am back..!!!

...ahh finally I got some respite to return back to my blog..!!!

So many things have happened since the last time I had written something...I got a new project where am supposed to work on something which I am not really interested... study for my CPIM examination while slogging over this project... couple of guest visits... my laptop display screen slowly moving towards it's untimely death etc etc...

Apart from me, the news channels has been busy with lots of activities too...AP Chief Minister YSR's chopper was lost in the dense woods and was later found crashed in Naxalite hit area...Akshay Kumar was found at his usual best with 13 celebrities in a new reality show called 'खतरों के खिलाडी -season 2' . It's same as 'Fear Factor' which was earlier hosted by Mukul Dev in India (and that had failed miserably if I remember correctly)...It's not over yet, Bigg Boss-3 is yet on promotion, with Amitabh hosting the show this time (...!!!)...Many movies had released and to name the most favorite of them all is 'Kaminey', and most disappointing of them all is 'Dil bole hadippa' (why do guys still try to copy Chak De effect)...India was kicked out by none other than Pakistan in Champion's trophy ...

Meanwhile I found myself engrossed with new websites called Twitter and Facebook (at least they're new for me..!!), but I must admit, I wouldn't be able to cope up with Twitter's concept (am not as happening as required..!!)...

Anyways let me carry on with my blog..