Travel in trying times

IT'S RS. 5 if you get a seat and Rs. 2 if you have to stand, said one commuter of the luxury omni and mini buses that are criss- crossing Chennai roads these days.

What is the rate for footboard travel? A friend replies, ``Why then you can run behind the bus, it comes free of cost!''

Even amid public harangue over the strike by public transport staff, city life has a lighter side. So it seems.

In fact, the transport strike with all the problems on one side on the eve of Deepavali, has evoked reactions from commuters, the public, crew and officials that is a mix of humour, anger, frustration and compassion.

But binding them all is... unity to solve a crisis.

At 10 p.m. an autorickshaw driver who packed his vehicle like sardines saw an old woman standing out hesitating to get in.

Pat came his reply, ``Pattima Ukkarunga, nan unga peran madiri! (Sit down grandma, we are like your grandchildren).'' Without further ado, the woman sits next to the young driver and puts her arm behind him for a solid grip.

City commuters who are used to travelling in MTC buses bursting at its seams are now enjoying the luxury of travelling in posh luxury buses, for a teeny weeny Rs. 2 or a hefty Rs. 20, for a longer ride.

Chennai today is full of these colourful ``air buses'' in yellow, purple, blue and black, small, big and medium- sized. The transport scenario has really changed in a few days.

Chennai may have a far better bus connectivity compared to many other Indian metros.

Still the public complain about too few buses, bad schedules or ``not having that or not giving this''.

The strike has almost silenced the grumblers. The thought in everyone's mind is just to get to their destination... somehow! Multiple modes of transport is the order of the day.

Leave home sharing an regular autorickshaw, hop on to a `five- seater shareauto', cover some distance in a mini or omni bus. And if you see a good old MTC jump into it and see if it can take you ``there'', that's where you need to go. Intelligent travel is getting to be one great art!

By Akila Dinakar

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