"ST ni savari, Salamat Savari"!!

The GSRTC has come up with this slogan about 3-4 years ago, when they were accused of bein late every time. State Transport buses have always been victims of punctuality related charges, be it drivers takin too many stops, or the engine gettin over-heated repeatedly and sometimes even the passengers stoppin for nature's call repeatedly!! So, the GSRTC came up with this smart slogan to counter their punctuality charges by atleast assurin safety if not punctuality. And this accordin to me, was a very smart and wise decision.


But what i can speak of my experience of travellin every fortnight between Vadodara and Ahmedabad, i can assure you all guys, ST is safe and PUNCTUAL!! I know the expressway not only helps but forces the ST buses to reach in time, even if they don want to, but still it suits me and am a great and loyal fan of travellin by public transport. And this my friends, does not imply only to Vadodara-Ahmedabad routes, it holds true even for Rajkot bound buses in which I am a frequent traveller in vacations owin to the large number of my relatives residin there. Yesterday, while comin to Vadodara, heavy rains had struck parts of Anand and Nadiad which had led to heavy rains durin the travel.


Now, the ones which had occupied the window seats due to the humid climate in Ahmedabad, came under the firin line. Even I wanted to get a window seat but failed to get one. And after that I only had to thank my luck for not gettin one. As soon as we reached Nadiad, the downpour started and the guys sittin in front row became the first victims. For initial protection, they did close the windows as tightly as they could, but closin windows in a downpour is hardly any solution when you are travellin by a half-naked GSRTC bus which almost invites water to come in and drench its fellow passengers. The conductor tried his best by coverin the "air-gaps" (Gosh!!electric engg lingo) by some card-boards which he managed from somewhere but they kept flyin around in the bus due to the strong winds. Result: Passengers in the first row had to eventually stand thro' the whole journey and curse themselves for optin to sit in the first row, jus because they could get that extra comfort of stretchin their legs durin the 2 hr long journey! Huh, now i second the fact "LALACH BURI BALA HAI"!!


Now, the window seat seekers were in for some afternoon bathing!! The rains gave them a torrid time with water drippin from the windows and the upper portion of the windows. One of them was a smart fellow though, who took out his umbrella and sat in the bus. I must say that was completely great presence of mind from him but at the same time an irony as well. And guess what, a couple of them who did ve umbrellas followed suit. Novel ideas are always welcome in this world! But the ones who dint ve protection again had to stand thro' the journey owin to the leakage.


But, if drippin water from the windows was not enough, take this, the middle passage which separates the 3*2 seats was continuously receivin water thanks to the open passages near the non-workin tubelights in the bus. So, the guys who had stood up from their places had to again think out a place where they could stand without gettin wet completely. Gettin wet was inevitable anyways, they jus had to reduce the degree of gettin wet!! So, they kept jostlin for some space where they could stand safely and did manage some. Findin space somehow in a jam-packed vehicle is one of "The Great Indian Commuter's" finest skill which has to be admired by one and all.


Finally, Vadodara approached and the rain subsided and the water stopped comin inside. Thus, the journey came to an end and the ones standin, finally heaved a sigh of relief. So, guys even in such heavy rains, ST managed to cover the distance in jus about 2 hrs and well we reached safely too.



A "Great Indian Commuter Skills" Fan.