Bangalore Traffic.

Among all the things that amuse me and sometimes annoy me about my Home city- Bangalore, Traffic takes the precedence. 

School chapter: Traffic was non-existent.. except for buses, cycle rickshaws, tongas(horse/mule drawn carts), bullock carts, tempos(three wheeler trucks), vans, a few mopeds- Luna and suvega being the most famous, scooters- vijay and lambretta being the most famous, cars - usually an Ambassador or a Fiat-padmini were the norm and auto rickshaws(a mini three wheeled taxi).  Hmm.. Now most of them are in the antique section except for buses and auto richshaws. Life was good. Yes, the Parthenium(a weed) caused major allergy and asthma flare-ups but it wasn't bad.

College Chapter: Traffic increased a little but it was alright, it just took about 20-30 mins to cover a 50 km range on a Moped.  The bus services were dismal.. Places like Shivajinagar, Majestic, KR Market was a place to avoid during peak hours.  Waiting for the bus was the favorite pastime (NOT).  Cars increased, thanks to Rajeev Gandhi and his Open Market. Among the Scooters the Bajaj Chetak began to be the choicest.

But Life was Good, cause if we didn't get a bus on time, we could always walk from college to the home in 40 mins or about an hour depending on how fast or how slow we walked, and eat all the goodies along the way. And no one thought of the state of the Roads, it was just something to promise at the time of elections and reneged on when elected. Potholes and dug up pavements and Speed breakers, nay! Spine Breakers were a norm.  Parthenium became less due to "development" but smog increased making the Traffic Police's Tenure at his/her job, the shortest.

Job Chapter: Traffic went up drastically.  Roads started getting clogged.  What used to take 30 mins now took, hmm we don't know, depended on where the traffic jam was at. If we say we are going to be anywhere at a particular time and intend being punctual, we required to leave home at least 2 hours or earlier depending on where we lived. Hence the IST(Indian Stretchable Time) became more Stretchable.  But life was good because at least there was a job that bought in some money, so what if we had to take off every now and then with aggravated allergies.  There were also parks and lakes and greenery and the people were still the same - laid back, hospitable and really nice.

We also read a lot about how the UN was going to help us build our "infrastructure"  (which I thought meant roads and other amenities) and then we saw no action...ah my Puny mind could never comprehend the workings of Bureaucracy, the government and the UN. I also felt a tad ashamed -we are the most densely populated country but couldnt come up with the money to build what we need, although me and my parents and those I knew payed their taxes? But then I brushed that thought aside with-  "well, ask for help when you cant do it on your own.. its not shameful to ask for help, is it?" and all was well in my head.

NRI Chapter: After I left my country to live with my husband, I dreamed for the most part, of how Bangalore was, based on what I formerly knew Bangalore to be..  I read the news most every day, just so that I don't miss out on all the happenings in Bangalore (what can I say, I am very attached to my place of birth). Every time I called my parents, relatives or friends back home, we would get into this lengthy discussion about what's changed, which road has become hopeless/better/one-way, which restaurant/shop/companies have closed down, what has come up in its place, how the traffic is, What are the new vehicals on the street etc.. etc..

Recently I visited my home city and was thrilled at the improvements and disappointed at some things that haven't changed for the better. So now we have some flyovers (YAY!!)  but the roads still get clogged (sigh). We still have people who have no clue what is is to follow traffic rules(sigh) but every now and then you see someone following the rules (YAY!!). Most every one is in a perpetual state of hurry(sigh) but then they are still hospitable and nice(YAY!!). The parks, lakes and gardens have been cleaned up and maintained better than before(YAY!!) but you still have nooks and corners that become dumpsters and toilets. (sigh). We still get to see our version of vintage vehicles- the bullock cart, the tonga and I saw Camels... imagine my awe.

Last but not the least amusing part of my looking for changes in Bangalore Traffic was the banners that had been put up for Traffic Day's .  Here they are.  Have fun viewing.