Taming the ‘K-line’

The condition of public transport needs no introduction. Everyone knows the truth about their condition and how much useful they prove to be in solving their purpose. It is hard to say if with time, the condition is improving or deteriorating. Although introduction of ‘Metro’ did provided the much needed relief, but in front of Delhi’s growing population it is turning out to be a case of too little too late. The increasing traffic on the roads, never ending jams, long wait at the red lights, the ever green ‘K-lines’ alongwith errant DTC and what not, when it comes to commuting the city of flyovers is really flying above all. But instead of all the traffic and commuting problem am only interested in the age old Delhi Transport Corporation – DTC.

As I have mentioned earlier also, the day I took admission in the esteemed University of Delhi, travelling by DTC for 3 years became my destiny [not only me, but all the odd 1.2 lac regular student of the varsity are destined to do so, because of the almost free travel which the DTC offers through the students bus pass]. Travelling in the bus for these three years was a new experience and I must say very educative. I guess while in DU we learnt more in these buses than classes.

All know about the blue line-cop nexus which prevails vibrantly as a result of which the K-line is always on rampage. Well but what I got to know for the first time was the blue-line DTC nexus which plays an important role in people boarding the blue line. Actually all the DTC staff members get a share of the blue line’s booty, and their work is to make sure that no DTC reach before or after a blue line. They deliberately slow down or stop unnecessarily at the depots so that the K-line has a free passage. Now this free passage is the cause for all the delay which these blue line buses cause, because they know that their competitor is taking a nap in the bus depot.

But then there are instances, more often than not, when the two come face to face. This can be due to bad timing or because that particular bus did not received their incentive for the ‘standing-out’ performance at the work or both. However there are times when the encounters are not because of the above two reasons, one day in the U-special we came across a blue line and the conductor of the blue line offered the conductor of our special 200 bucks which he bluntly refused. So in this case an inevitable battle begins, the battle of who will get more passengers from the following stops? At this very moment the blue line actually turns into K-lines. They drive fast, they drive rash and they are unstoppable. At this moment they can even give Michael Schumacher a run for his money. I was actually surprised when first time I saw their driving skills. Steering a huge bus on narrow, ill-maintained, full of traffic Delhi roads is no child’s play. But they actually do it and do it with precision.

This happens everyday with every blue line and during this hour of rush some mishap do happens. Comparing the frequency of these encounters and the deaths caused by ‘K-lines’ we get to know that the ‘K-line’ drivers are actually doing a great job, and the so called killing spree is a rare instance to occur.

The morale of the whole story is, ‘K-line’ kills. Either by their slow speed [The ‘K-line http://www.zhagdoo.com/2008/02/25/the-k-line/] on free passage or by their over speed on the battle ground. In both these cases the cause is common and that is the DTC, either by being present on the roads or by being absent from them. So if the government actually wants to tame the ‘K-line’, then here is a simple solution shut the DTC. Moreover it runs in huge loss, what is the use of this white elephant which is responsible of blue lines turning into ‘K-lines’?

All other measures of the government have already fallen flat. Why? There are so many reasons behind it, and all the newspapers keep on highlighting them. Instead of talking about the problem here is a solution, a method to tame this wild elephant. So what say you? Who we need more, a white elephant or a wild elephant? The decision is yours.

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