I filed a complaint with BMTC today raising some issues that I have observed during my daily commute. If you have similar concerns as well, you may raise them with BMTC at: http://www.bmtcinfo.com/site/BSComplaints.jsp
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a regular BMTC commuter in Bengaluru and have the following concerns about the bus service provided:
Ticket Not issued by conductors:When we pay the fare for a commute, we expect a ticket to be given. BMTC is a service run by the government for us and the income from the service should reach the government itself. Bus conductors indulge in a corrupt practice of not issuing a ticket to commuters and charging an amount lesser than the legitimate amount and pocketing the money. Ex: for a minimum Volvo fare of 10/-, they charge 5/- and do not issue a ticket. Such practices are observed in normal non-Volvo BMTC buses as well.
We see the government taking efforts to improve the service and penetration for the city. We would like the income from such services to reach the government. Such corruption is unacceptable!
Rash driving by Volvo drivers: The second concern that I want to raise is with respect to drivers of Volvo buses. These modern buses are powered with good engines and extremely strong power brakes. Drivers tend to get carried away. Even if they see a signal red light ahead of them or a bus stop, they continue to speed and then apply an emergency brake. Standing passengers have a tough time holding on to the handles. I have often seen standees including the conductor falling due to emergency brakes. People on seats also have to keep holding the handles. Many times passengers are pregnant women or senior citizens. Even if they have a seat to sit, they have to stand as their stops approach and then the drivers indulge in such braking causing them to loose balance and hold on to whatever they can find for dear life.
I am thankful to the BMTC and the Karnataka government for an efficient bus service.
May I request you to please look into these issues so that we can make it even better.
Regards,
Amit
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Google Profiles
Bill Gates once said that anything and everything on the web is exciting until the time Google touches it. Thats some testimonial!
The latest offering that I have come across from Google after resuming consciousness from that fact that I finally have a WAVE account is Google Profiles.
Profiles is not a Beta and hence its unlikely to be one of the company's latest offerings. But yeah, I do tend to stumble upon such things a lot after the world has!
We have had millions of attempts at making personal web pages and profiles, but the level of integration that this promises is a first thanks to the unique positioning that Google has in the webspace today!
You can put up all your information and also plug in feeds and links from Facebook, your public Picasa page, MySpace, GoogleMaps, Blogger to name a few.
To get a simple Googleishtyle walk-through, check out About Profiles
Check it out and please do leave your comments, thoughts and revelations as you explore Profiles. Also, do not forget to share links to your Google Profiles :o)
Happy Googling[and thats a verb]!
The latest offering that I have come across from Google after resuming consciousness from that fact that I finally have a WAVE account is Google Profiles.
Profiles is not a Beta and hence its unlikely to be one of the company's latest offerings. But yeah, I do tend to stumble upon such things a lot after the world has!
We have had millions of attempts at making personal web pages and profiles, but the level of integration that this promises is a first thanks to the unique positioning that Google has in the webspace today!
You can put up all your information and also plug in feeds and links from Facebook, your public Picasa page, MySpace, GoogleMaps, Blogger to name a few.
To get a simple Googleishtyle walk-through, check out About Profiles
Check it out and please do leave your comments, thoughts and revelations as you explore Profiles. Also, do not forget to share links to your Google Profiles :o)
Happy Googling[and thats a verb]!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
With more power comes more responsibility
On numerous counts already, questions have been raised on the moral responsibility of the media and media persons. From the live coverage of the commandos being air landed on the ill fated Nariman House in Mumbai to stories similar to the one portrayed by Soha Ali khan in Mumbai Meri Jaan, media persons have, I strongly believe, behaved quite irresponsibly.
The most recent act of the media which only strengthens this belief was when a media person asked an insensitive and inflammatory question to Sachin Tendulkar during a press conference commemorating his 20 years in international cricket. The question had nothing to do with his sporting achievements. It instead quizzed him about his opinion on the very potent, magnetic and sensitive Mumbaikar issue.
Whatever his opinion would have been, even before he began answering, the damage was done. It was sure to arouse reactions from the relevant political camps. From the Shiv Sena through its mouthpiece, The Samna to the Samajwadi leader Abu Azmi leaving no stone unturned to gather political mileage from it. This I fear is just the start and could only get muckier. In fact, if the person involved had been anyone other than Sachin himself, I am sure the usual anti-social “protests” would have begun immediately with their signature stone pelting on houses, morchas and digging up of cricket pitches.
What I fail to understand is whether TRP the only thing that matters?
No one wants a censor-like, government run big brother overseeing the content that the free media reports. Its only up to them to prevent such days from dawning upon themselves as we the people to whom they are meant to serve will be the biggest losers.
Is media today, not an extension of the same channel that was decades ago so instrumental in bringing the nation together. Yes it very much is. And when they do function in the way they should, cases like the Jessica Lal murder case get re-opened giving us a glimpse of what its power is capable of achieving.
How I wish it also possessed wisdom to exercise discretion in dispensing it.
The most recent act of the media which only strengthens this belief was when a media person asked an insensitive and inflammatory question to Sachin Tendulkar during a press conference commemorating his 20 years in international cricket. The question had nothing to do with his sporting achievements. It instead quizzed him about his opinion on the very potent, magnetic and sensitive Mumbaikar issue.
Whatever his opinion would have been, even before he began answering, the damage was done. It was sure to arouse reactions from the relevant political camps. From the Shiv Sena through its mouthpiece, The Samna to the Samajwadi leader Abu Azmi leaving no stone unturned to gather political mileage from it. This I fear is just the start and could only get muckier. In fact, if the person involved had been anyone other than Sachin himself, I am sure the usual anti-social “protests” would have begun immediately with their signature stone pelting on houses, morchas and digging up of cricket pitches.
What I fail to understand is whether TRP the only thing that matters?
No one wants a censor-like, government run big brother overseeing the content that the free media reports. Its only up to them to prevent such days from dawning upon themselves as we the people to whom they are meant to serve will be the biggest losers.
Is media today, not an extension of the same channel that was decades ago so instrumental in bringing the nation together. Yes it very much is. And when they do function in the way they should, cases like the Jessica Lal murder case get re-opened giving us a glimpse of what its power is capable of achieving.
How I wish it also possessed wisdom to exercise discretion in dispensing it.
Monday, November 09, 2009
It is time...
As an individual, I tend to build my own support system around myself wherever I go. I did it when I was in Gurgaon for a short stint and I have certainly done it here, in Bangalore, where I have been for almost three years now.
My support system here comprised of these two room-mates of mine. I always believed that we had a fairly detached existence until such a time when we decided to surrender the apartment and go our own way. A job change for one resulting in relocation and marriage of another had prompted this decision.
When I now look back at the years together I realize how dependant I was on them. They were indeed the people who made a place away from home, livable and bearable.
Moving on is a strange thing. It has all the ingredients to qualify it as a mixed bag. From the very likable, optimistic and hollow in the stomach feeling of a new start to the almost choking sadness to let go of what has been yours for some time now.
For now, keeping faith in the belief that all happens for the best.
Good luck
God Bless
My support system here comprised of these two room-mates of mine. I always believed that we had a fairly detached existence until such a time when we decided to surrender the apartment and go our own way. A job change for one resulting in relocation and marriage of another had prompted this decision.
When I now look back at the years together I realize how dependant I was on them. They were indeed the people who made a place away from home, livable and bearable.
Moving on is a strange thing. It has all the ingredients to qualify it as a mixed bag. From the very likable, optimistic and hollow in the stomach feeling of a new start to the almost choking sadness to let go of what has been yours for some time now.
For now, keeping faith in the belief that all happens for the best.
Good luck
God Bless
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Counting down to the D day
My training for the Mumbai Marathon entered its second phase last week. This is the when the distances get higher and schedule more gruelling.
Fingers crossed is the only feeling that occupies my mind whenever I think about running and this event.
Last year this was the time in the schedule where my regularity went for a toss due to increase in the work hours and the cold. When I did try to resume, I went down with an injury and could not run for a couple of months.
This year, all I want to be able to do is go through my training schedule for the remaining 9 weeks and I believe it should get me there.
A runner friend advised me to concentrate on the training, enjoy it and take it a day at a time which is what I plan to do.
Hoping to finish 26 miles on January 17th 2010. Strong!
Fingers crossed is the only feeling that occupies my mind whenever I think about running and this event.
Last year this was the time in the schedule where my regularity went for a toss due to increase in the work hours and the cold. When I did try to resume, I went down with an injury and could not run for a couple of months.
This year, all I want to be able to do is go through my training schedule for the remaining 9 weeks and I believe it should get me there.
A runner friend advised me to concentrate on the training, enjoy it and take it a day at a time which is what I plan to do.
Hoping to finish 26 miles on January 17th 2010. Strong!
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