THE BUS RIDE AFTER AGES

I travelled by a bus in Pune after a real long time. So long, that i dont even remember when was the last ride. Must have been sometime in 1976 because soon thereafter, i bought a Lambretta, Red Color,and have never been without a vehicle except for about a year when the Janta party stopped the sale of scooters thru the Canteen and the Chetak took a long time coming... eventually never coming my way, since the supply thru Canteen started again with the change of Govt and i got mine. Those were the days of long waiting periods and heavy premiums even on the second hand 2 wheelers. The present generation may not know the trying times we went thru due to quotas in every sphere which was the policy then.

The ride thru Pune for a demonstration in front of the PMC brought back memories which are still fresh. Whenever, i was at home in Pune Cantt on leave from Sainik School or the NDA, my favourite activity used to be to pick up the cycle in the evenings and ride around Pune, exploring various parts. With very little traffic on the roads but for cycles it wasnt difficult to go round Pune in short span of time. Now the same roads are choc a bloc with 2 and 3 wheelers as also cars of all sizes and shapes. Many of the owners of these vehicles seem to have graduated from the cycles straight to the present day and retain that mentality with the result, driving around in Pune has become a nightmare.

Back to the bus ride, the non ac bus was as rickety as they come and took a most circuitous route thru Shankar sheth road, bhavani peth, rasta peth, kumbhar wada to reach the PMC. Fortunately, on the return journey, he brought us by the Jangli maharaj road, Tilak road and Shankar sheth road.

It was while going thru the city that i saw that Pune has really not grown in the old city areas. Dilapidated buildings, narrow roads, lack of traffic discipline and pedestrians everywhere except on the footpaths made the drive a nightmare. No wonder that now a days we rarely go to the City. The PMC has totally failed the people, the lack of planning, total absence of traffic police and the couldnt care less attitude of the janata was evident all through the ride. However since we had hired the bus, at least we got seats and there was no one standing, a look at the PMC buses was horryfying to say the least with every available, except the roof tops, space taken up by people.

Its another matter that the purpose of the bus ride was not achieved since all fauzis amongst us failed to cross the hurdle of policemen at the PMC gates while most of the civilians managed to get thru under one pretext or the other. Guess we have to refresh our knowledge of infiltrating behind the “enemy” lines for the next time.

And oh yes, while we waited for the return ride, the bus had a flat tyre which needed replacement, fortunately the driver had one and we were back home after a forgettable bus ride to and fro PMC. Am i looking forward to another ride? No, not all. Volvo bus is another thing but the city buses NO.