DND going the BRT way

Lot of people consider me lucky, though I live in a big city like Delhi I still manage to spend less time on roads compared to an average Delhi commuter.
I travel about 20 kms everyday and spend close to 70-80 mins on road averaging my speed to 15-17km/hr.

Is that good? I would say that’s awful!

My friends in other metros would say that I expect too much considering the conditions on Indian roads in metros or other towns, according to them I still get a decent speed, but they don’t realize that out of these 20 kms about 9 kms I travel on an expressway where even if were to obey the speed limits fixed at 80 kms/hr I should reach my destination in a jiffy.

So what’s my point here?

With each passing month my travel time has increased, agreed I have to drive through metro and flyover construction- this when completed I hope would eventually reduce the commute, but I’m more worried on the time that I spend on expressway.

I use an expressway, I pay toll for its usage. Ever since I’ve started to use the toll road the charges have increased by about 30% and my travel time by as much as 120%

I don’t understand the logic of increasing charges for a service in which the quality levels have gone down abysmally. I’ vent seen a single effort by the concessionaire to improve service levels despite number of vehicles using the toll road has gone up exponentially.

The number of toll booths have remain stagnant
Numbers of counters to avail prepaid cards have not increased.
Even these counters can be accessed at only one side of travel which is little ridiculous.
But the most bewildering aspect is that there is no cost incentive for users to switch to prepaid cards; neither there is any regulation that penalizes users who enters the card lanes when they are unmanned. Now why in this world (read Delhi) would somebody want to get prepaid cards made for their transit when they very well know that all the lanes are open to them and they can freely choose the lane with the smallest queue, even if it leads to delay for user who has every right to zip through the lanes as promised by the authority.

And just to compound our misery these guys have come out with a bizarre pricing of 22Rs/use – did they ever think that people would carry 2 Rs change each time or they would be in a position to dole out 8Rs for each user without increase in average time/user.

I always fail to understand that even though there is a Govt representative on the Noida Toll road authority board, but are they made accountable to the decisions taken and the service offered, if this is continued I’m afraid that like all Govt initiatives this one would also prove to be a good plan on paper falls flat on execution and the scary part in this is that the authority would still be minting money out of our misery.

New Year, Newer Hopes...

What’s so special about New Year, its just change in a day, but why does this change brings us new hopes and new aspirations, a confidence to do things, set new goals for ourselves make seemingly impossible resolutions….

However I would want this New Year to be everyday if this change can make me work better, feel better, treat myself good and people around me in a more humble and responsible manner.

I would want this New Year to be everyday if this can make me leave a healthier and stress free life, I want this New Year to make me more forgiving and forget stuff that affects me negatively, It should give me the courage to change the world, wisdom to understand the unknown, blessings to overcome hurdles.

I want this New Year to give me strength to maintain a clear conscience in the adversity that I cannot avoid… I want the New Year to be celebrated everyday if only half of this can be achieved.

Thought of a Yogi!

The lines below are from one of my favorite movie GUIDE (1965). The lines are so simple yet so profound, It’s that state of mind that one can only hope to reach but once there everything looks so clear and attainable….


Aaj Mai Kitani Aajadi Mehsoos Kar Raha Hoon!
Jism Jaise Maange Karna Bhool Gaya;
Man Tadpana - Tadpaana Bhool Gaya;
Jeevan Aaj Jaise Mutthi Me Hai !
Maut Jaise Ek Khel Hai!

Lagta Hai Aaj Har Iccha Puri Ho Gayi....
Per Ab Maja Dekho, Aaj Koi Iccha Hi Nahi Rahi !
Jindagi Pighalkar Prakash Ban Gayi.....
Aur Sacchaai Mera Roop Hai !

Tan Rahe Na Rahe, Mai Rahoonga!
Aag Me Phek Do, Mai Jalunga Nahi!
Talwaar Se Vaar Karo, Mai Katunga Nahi!
Tum Ahankaar Ho, Tumko Marna Hoga;
Mai Aatma Hoon, Amar Hoon!

Maut Ye Khayaal Hai Jaise Jindagi ye Khayaal Hai !
Na Sukh hai, Na Dukh Hai
Na Deen Hai, Na Duniya
Na Insaan, Na Bhagvaan
Sirf Mai Hoon, Mai Hoon, Mai Hoon,
Mai Hoon...Mai ..Sirf Mai!!

It's Modi time Folks!

The thumping majority gained in recent Elections by BJP couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only it reinforces the fact development can be the core issue for any elections but also forces the grand old party of India to introspect what has been plaguing them for last two decades in that prosperous state which once was their bastion.

This win not only acts as a booster for the party workers of BJP in the ensuing assembly elections in many states but also completely establishes Modi as leader of future that our generation was looking for and especially BJP who had failed to develop the second line of leaders.

Baring aside the Godhra incident which no doubt is a botch on Modi’s tenure, This tireless worker has shown that development can be an election issue no matter how much the opposition tries to malign him on communal lines. His stand on Gujarati pride and One Gujarat has always been misinterpreted and misrepresented by the opposition which was the main cause of their falling besides trying to fight election on rebel candidates and misreading the demands of electorate. In the last 7 years this charismatic leader has managed to establish himself and BJP as a default choice in all the regions of Gujrat even in congress dominated areas of Saurastra and southern Gujarat.

Not only all the parameters of social development index have improved but overall the state has shown phenomenal development on the growth rate, right from attracting investments in the state to the innumerable successful companies already established there. The once parched state has witnessed agricultural boom thanks to Narmada Canal and other irrigation efforts on the part of the government. Gujarat is one among the very few states were state electricity board has seen such a turnaround in a span of few years.

All credit must go to Modi for steering his state on the path that other state governments can only hope to emulate but also settles the doubt on his leadership that certain quarters in BJP were raising. Modi in this term would surely write a new chapter in the History of Gujrat but also take the state to unparralled height and is also set for greater role in the National Political scene the day he desires.

Way to Go Modi- Its not One Gujarat but One India that’s cheering for you!

Road to Nowhere!

It’s heartening to note that successive governments are taking considerable interest in trying to help movement of goods and people across borders. Opening up more border roads, relaxed visa and custom formalities, confidence building measures, social exchanges, reduction in trade tariffs and other barriers are some of the important steps that governments are adopting to facilitate this process.

While the efforts on the governments part is really commendable , I really fail to understand what’s stopping the governments in making interstate transport easier and accessible for the general public and goods- a case in point- the never ending dispute of state road transport between Delhi and UP.

Governments apathy towards such issues causes unmentionable hardship to travelers especially daily workers, consider NCR which comprises of three states and five growing townships, Commuters without their own mode of transport are left at the mercy of public transport that is in absolute state of disrepair-Even if the governments are not into tussle the bus service hardly exists between these suburbs, Rick’s and standard registered taxis cant cross the border because of permit and commercial tax hindrances.

Transport of passengers and goods between Mumbai and suburbs which fall under different districts-Thane, Greater Mumbai, and Raigad is equally an arduous task unless the person chooses to travel by train. Right from commercial tax to octroi forces taxis, Rick’s to avoid picking passengers for suburbs under these jurisdictions and thus deny them a chance to earn a decent earning and force the passengers to pay out of their pockets to avail any avialble means of transport.

Instances like these are very common in North, North East and galore across nearly all the states.
I really wonder, Is sorting out these issues more difficult than opening up borders with neighboring countries-, A recent report on the freight movement released by the central government states that on an average transport vehicles spend more than 40% of their time in state border check posts, and never ending line of commercial tax booths, they also spend an equal amount of fuel in this unnecessary exercise.- wouldn’t the trade benefit more by easing out the formalities in tax structures between states and central governments, while saving large amount of precious fuels which in turn would make goods and services cheaper!

Is it a question of miscued priorities or complete lack of understanding of needs of the electorate? I’m perplexed! Does anyone have any idea about this?

Why Rising Rupee shouldn't be a Cause of Concern?

A lot has been said and written about rupee appreciating significantly against the dollar in the last few months, from the highs of 46 to a dollar it is presently being traded at 40.5Rs.

While proponents favoring this rise attribute it to weakening dollar vis-à-vis other currencies, rise in the trading capacity of our country, less demand of dollar in the primary market and solid indicators conveying a improved economy (Last week was very significant in this- The market value of total stocks in BSE crossed 1 trillion dollar-again a result of appreciating rupee and very proudly India now belongs in the trillion dollar GDP club).

Opponents of this foresee a death knell for Indian Export Industry, compounding of problems for Indian software services which they feel will loose out on their competitive advantage.

Some questions to ponder:-

What does the government do to counter this? Is this beneficial? Is the scare raised by certain quarters regarding the threat for real?

To answer these let us first understand why the rupee rose so significantly?

The reason for India’s burgeoning forex reserve(in excess of 220billion dollars) is due to vast amount of direct FDI inflow in the country, increase in the remittances by NRI’s, On top of that to counter inflation, dry the liquidity and to prevent overheating of economy the government raised the savings rate hence even large corporate and foreign governments started parking their surplus funds in our country-This creates an imbalance between demand and supply of dollar hence the Rupee started appreciating phenomenally.

So where does Exports fit into this maze of finance and economics-Over the years Exports just like reservation has become a favorite duck of successive governments, Strong exporters lobby has forced governments to go all out to protect something which does not help in improving collections of direct taxes (Tax deduction of 100 percent is offered on Export Profits) - Despite all the favors meted out to this industry we still have an trade deficit of over 50 billion dollars.

Economist estimates that if we remove the artificial inflation of rupee the rupee still can smartly trade at 30-35Rs- Remember Rupee was devalued to bring dollars into the country and make our exports competitive during the Narsimha Rao regime. Its been more than 15 years Exporters by now should have learnt how to tame the volatility in the market!

After exporter bashing the next line of thought would be- How would appreciating rupee really help us?

Appreciating Rupee would make our imports cheaper-India imports over 70 percent of its crude oil requirement - a reduced amount of oil bill will make the cost of energy cheaper- Food for thought- India is fast becoming an extensive energy dependent economy, reduced energy and transportation cost would make goods and services more cheaper providing larger access to it, increasing the demand and thus proving it beneficial by economies of scale-A cheaper dollar would also help our emerging tourist class to visit more offshore places, and they can also get some good Spirits that I’ve been looking for at cheaper rates ;-)

Exporters would be crying hoarse after reading this- Agreed I don’t have panacea for their misery,

Some suggested solution that I see helping them come out of self inflected pain

Don’t compete on pure cost advantage rather move higher up in the value chain.
Don’t try and force our governments to adapt policies akin to China instead emulate progressive trade practices of Korea,Japan or Taiwan(value of Taiwanese Dollar is close to 33Rs and its an export surplus country)
Exporters can also alter the way Software services are conducting their business, by smartly hedging their risk, by trading in other currencies largely Pound sterling and Euro.

I’m sure the prodigious trio of Honorable Prime minister Mr. Manmohan Singh, Planning commission chairman Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and our very own Finance minister P.C Chidambaram are stalwarts in this area (I revere them) along with Reserve bank governor Y.V Reddy can bring about some quick fix solution as well as long term radical changes in the way money is being handled and perceived in this country.

Psst Psst- The views/Ideas/Opinions expressed in this context are completely of the writer. It might be a bit boring to read but I endorse this view in its entirety. I do not vouch for completeness and usefulness of this in any form-however opinions and feedbacks of others are most welcome.

The Maya(wati) of UP Politics

The political circus in Uttar Pradesh has always found large audience- Not only is it fascinating to watch but the political implications that it has on the national landcape makes it even more out of the ordinary.

Any party that has performed well in up has the maximum clout in the way central governments are run (UP sends 80 MP in the 540 odd lower house), great performances in UP has always led to these parties turning into a national force in India. From the good old days of Jan Sangh, to BJP all have emerged as national parties after their success in heartland of Indian politics and this win makes all the roads look very clear for BSP.

Though parties like SP and BSP had started making inroads in assembly elections of Delhi, Rajasthan, MP and Maharastra, but this win will surely drive the cadre in other states to go for the kill in forthcoming elections.

This success can largely be attributed to the inconceivable Social Re-engineering that Mayawati has achieved this time which has not only caught off guard all her detractors but also is so hard to emulate that it would bring out sweeping changes in the political arena before any party can ape it in any manner.

For decades elections in UP and a larger part of India have been fought on cast affinity rather than local requirements- realizing that no caste group is big enough win the throne for her but is large enough to create a dent into her prospects of ruling the state. Mayawati opens a new chapter in Indian politics by fielding around 80 Brahimns out of 403 seats (50 odd actually making it to the assembly from a Dalit party ticket).

Rather than wooing, Muslims, Thakurs, Baniyas, Brahimns and Yadavs she spell bounded the entire electorate with her magic potion. Just by clever social re-engineering she gets everything without offering anything. This victory will make her way easy in getting a larger representation in 15th Lok Sabha which is good two years away.

The take away for her-Mayawati now controls the largest representation of public in that state, has a major say in run up to Indian presidency and in all probability will be a make deep infiltration on other parties’ turf making her frontrunner in the next line of national leaders.