I did something in record time today. I boarded a bus to the Central Railway Station, which is two stops away from my office - say 3 km - booked two tickets at two different counters and got back to work - all in the matter of 30 minutes! Amazing by Indian standards, I'd say.
For one, I didnt have to wait long to get a bus to and fro. For another, there was no queue at the ladies counter and the credit card counter being lunch time. Only I was surprised the booking was on at lunch hours. But then, I think each counter has a half hour lunch/tea break but they all dont fall at the same time. And luckily for me, both my destinations had a reservation clerk in attendance.
And mind you, they are not the unpleasant kind we had to endure when we were in college. We dreaded going to the Mambalam reservation office 15 years ago with the students' concession forms duly signed and stamped by the Dean's office. The clerk would somehow find fault and make us make at least 3 trips to the office - first to book our tickets before they were all sold out during the vacation rush, second to book a revised ticket with our concession forms in tow (but they would spot some error in it) and third with the foolproof form once again - seething inside, we pretended to be extremely courteous and polite while the clerk behaved as if he/she were doing us a personal favour. As if it were his/her personal funds and not that of the Railways.
Well, the fact is the Indian Railways is trying to seem more people friendly with a cut-throat businessman of a Minister heading it. But Laloo has straightened quite a few things with India's largest employer. The PSU in fact is reaping profits. What with Tatkal tickets booked at Rs.75 (AC 200) in the off season of July-Sept. and Rs.150/300 in the remaining season, and a charge of Rs. 10 extra for return tickets booked and many other such little charges... And they still sell like hot cakes. And no one is complaining either.
* I know the above topic might not interest many of you, but I hope this will fill the interlude till Miller's epic post comes.
3 comments:
hi rosh, thanks for putting suni's post and u'r railway experience.. yeah doing that in 1/2 hr is something u really need to jump with joy about!
yeah going with concession forms was a big.. they always found fault with it.
take care ust
Doing anything at lunch time is unreliable here too. I went to get my bus pass during lunch hour - one counter was open with 10 people in the line up. I gave up and went back during my coffee break. There were 4 counters open with no one around. I had to consider myself lucky even though it meant two trips.
MK
This should be added in the Limca book of records.....AM
Post a Comment