Autorickshaws reign
My friend, who works in a construction company in the Middle East, is an occasional visitor to the city, and while here, stays with his parents in their flat near Thakurpukur. Years of working in multinational firms in several countries have taught him to be patient, to remain composed in adverse conditions, and more importantly to not venture into unnecessary complications.
His composure and confidence shattered when yesterday he, unable to find a taxi and being in a hurry, preferred to take an auto from Taratala. There he found 2 auto-stands, and hesitating a little, proceeded to board one nearest. No sooner he settled, he was almost hounded out by a group from the other stand, saying the one he boarded would not go.
At this, the driver of the auto he chose rushed to the scene, and commanded he must not leave. Loosing his cool at such rowdy behavior on either side, he thought he would settle the matter. That was not to be, and he found himself in the middle of skirmish between the 2 groups. He later found the 2 groups belong to rival political parties – CITU and Trinamool Congress.
One of them, near Gariahat
When he narrated the event to me, it was hard not to get perturbed, though frankly such incidents with the autos are fairly common on city streets. Anyone who has the misfortune of being at Ultadanga railway underpass will readily vouch for the anarchy that these 3-wheelers let loose everyday. The road is pretty wide there, but the autos clog the place in such a way that one has to tread the stretch very carefully in order to avoid accidents.
Did you say what the police do? Well, the answer is they do nothing. Instead of police, the autowallahs listen to semi-literate union bosses, who care a damn about traffic congestion and the obvious danger for those passing by.
But then that is how the public transport is in the city. Do anything, and if you’ve political blessings, you need not fear anybody.
His composure and confidence shattered when yesterday he, unable to find a taxi and being in a hurry, preferred to take an auto from Taratala. There he found 2 auto-stands, and hesitating a little, proceeded to board one nearest. No sooner he settled, he was almost hounded out by a group from the other stand, saying the one he boarded would not go.
At this, the driver of the auto he chose rushed to the scene, and commanded he must not leave. Loosing his cool at such rowdy behavior on either side, he thought he would settle the matter. That was not to be, and he found himself in the middle of skirmish between the 2 groups. He later found the 2 groups belong to rival political parties – CITU and Trinamool Congress.
One of them, near Gariahat
When he narrated the event to me, it was hard not to get perturbed, though frankly such incidents with the autos are fairly common on city streets. Anyone who has the misfortune of being at Ultadanga railway underpass will readily vouch for the anarchy that these 3-wheelers let loose everyday. The road is pretty wide there, but the autos clog the place in such a way that one has to tread the stretch very carefully in order to avoid accidents.
Did you say what the police do? Well, the answer is they do nothing. Instead of police, the autowallahs listen to semi-literate union bosses, who care a damn about traffic congestion and the obvious danger for those passing by.
But then that is how the public transport is in the city. Do anything, and if you’ve political blessings, you need not fear anybody.
Labels: City Life 1
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