A tipsy tale

Why are you drinking? Asked society

So that I may forget, replied the tippler

Forget what? Inquired the society

Forget that I am ashamed, confessed the tippler

Ashamed of what?

Ashamed of failing to fetch an e-token!

Corona besides casting its web on business and industry has also de-railed the survival plans of society.  The section that is now a harassed lot is the drinking community.  Each state in India is locked down and the systematic closure of shops and establishments has also resulted in closure of liquor vends.  Whether it is beer, wine or IMFL, entire chain of stores have been closed down for over a month.  No reasons have been assigned for such a closure.

State Governments that are already pushed to the edge, making arrangements for C19 evacuation and rescue plans for its citizens are finding themselves further starved of revenue accruing out of sale of liquor.  States such as Kerala that heavily rely on the liquor earnings to fund their budget are stretched beyond limits.  It has been making fervent efforts to find a way out of this deadlock.  However elected rule makers have their way when it comes to playing with sentiments of their drink loving public.  Keep them dry till blood flow out instead of tears, drinking or otherwise.

Tipplers have been made butt of the joke in several societies.  While teetotalers enjoy every bit of struggle faced by the drinking fraternity, the joy mostly seems sadistic to a tippler.  Drinking gentlemen or ladies would never understand why a teetotaler draws such pleasure out of the thirst for a drink of a tippler.  It is perhaps to do with the ills alcohol brings with it, so say the naysayers. 

However one fails to understand the link between Covid Virus and alcohol.  While repeatedly alcohol has been stressed as an agent to be used to ward away the virus at least through liberal use of hand sanitizers, for a tippler nothing seems better than few gulps of alcohol to make up his day.

Liquor is a great liberator.  It also is perhaps that only true friend for a drinker in times of sorrow and depression.  Can there be more depressing a time than Covid times?  And here administrators have flashed their pens to slash away any hopes a tippler could have had to beat these hard times.  Ask a tippler who is a fool, he would reply, teetotaler; ask a teetotaler who is a fool? He would reply, a tippler.  Well, a tippler has surely been made a big fool in Covid times.

One may ask who contributes more to economy during times of crisis, a teetotaler tax paying citizen may say, Me! I contribute to the nation by paying taxes and also to relief funds, a tippler? A tax paying tippler?  Well, at least a tippler from New Delhi would say, me. One gave out such an analogy recently:

A teetotaler donated RS.500 to relief fund and a drinker bought alcohol worth Rs.500. Who contributes more to the nation?

On alcohol, total taxes (excise and GST) adds about 72% of the MRP. So when a drinker pays Rs.500, Rs.360 goes to the state exchequer.  On the other hand if a teetotaler makes a donation, he excpects a 30% rebate and lands up earning back Rs.150, in effect making a contribution of only Rs.350. Now after imposition of a 70% additional Corona tax in a state like Delhi, imagine the big contribution a tippler makes to the nation!

An angered activist tippler recently urged upon entire nation to give up alcohol so that governments learn a lesson from its efforts to chain down tipplers to their homes.  It was later learnt that he was checking out videos on you tube in how make heady brew at home.  Someone discovered cartons of decaying fruits behind his house.  In some place people were found sipping hand sanitizers! Even teetotalers in some nations were sipping industrial alcohol, not to get heady but they believed alcohol kills Covid 19!

Coming back to tipsy days.  Rich or poor, educated or illiterate, it is a pity the elected governments reign down and kick at the softest soft of a hapless tippler, especially in times of crisis.  Times when lovers are forbidden from showing their in physical terms, alcohol was perhaps the only leveler that could have saved them from drowning in a sea of sorrow.

Perhaps happy days will be here again, tipsy need not turn gypsy, searching for that elusive peg of high spirits.  What is a nation without spirited citizens?  Ask Russia, ask the most evolved and developed nations, they would never restrict sale of liquor to the masses.  Democracy is surely for those who believe in getting their due share without endlessly tapping on their mobile handsets to get an online liquor token or standing in huge queues made out of artificially inflating the length to show tipplers are losers.

It never is so.  Drinking and drinking responsibility should be the preserve of the evolved.  Whether it is water or liquor, value of every drop should be cherished with freedom.

Obituary

"There was a misconception that the film (Bobby) was made to launch me as an actor. The film was actually made to pay the debts of Mera Naam Joker. Dad wanted to make a teenage love story and he did not have money to cast Rajesh Khanna in the film” – Rishi Kapoor

The above statement speaks volumes about this great actor and an icon who won hearts through his handsome looks and charming smile.  Bobby for me was a film that initiated me into Hindi Films.  I went on to follow Rishi Kapoor through his films.  While his contemporaries like Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bacchan, Vinod Kumar were making it big in Hindi Film Industry, Rishi Kapoor silently spread his love across masses.

I followed this great star through his films Rafoo Chakkar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel mein and Hum Kisi se kam naheen, Kabhi Kabhi, Doosra Aadmi, Karz and many other movies.  His presence in screen was magnetic and so was his way of dressing.  I was so inspired by his style and demeanour that many of his movies remain etched as tender memories in my mind.

Beyond the year 2000 Rishi Kapoor acted in many films that included Yeh Hei Jalwa, Hum Tum, Fanaa, Namastey London, Love Aaj Kal, Patiala House etc.  He also acted in British Films such as Don’t stop dreaming, Sambar Salsa etc.  In 2010 he was onscreen with his wife Neetu Singh in the Film Do Dooni Char. He also acted in Chintuji, Agneepath, Jab Tak hei jaan etc.  A mystery thriller written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, The Body released in December, 2019 was the last film of this Iconic actor.

As reported in some section of social media, Rishi Kapoor was perhaps the only celebrity from Indian Film Industry to call out for opening of Liquor vends during the lockdown in support of tipplers who faced psychological problems and withdrawal symptoms.  This reflects his thought process during his last days on Earth.  Having empathy for others and a soft corner for masses and his fans would be reminders of this great personality.

May his noble soul rest in peace.

Awards*

1970 – Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards: Special Award, and National Film Award for Mera Naam Joker.

1974 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Bobby

2008 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

2009 – Honoured by Russian Government for contribution to cinema.

2010 – Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Love Aaj Kal.

2011 – Zee Cine Awards: Best Lifetime Jodi along with Neetu Singh.

2011 – Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for Do Dooni Chaar

2013 – The Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA), Best Actor in a Negative Role for Agneepath.

2016 – Screen Lifetime Achievement Award

2017 – Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor & Sons

2017 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor & Sons

2017 – Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male for Kapoor & Sons

2017 – Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Kapoor & Sons

*Source: Wiki

*A message from Rishi Kapoor’s family*

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. 

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. 

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. 

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. 

He would not have it any other way.

COVID-2019: Part II Youth as Health Volunteers

 ©Jaya Prakash Kallikkal 2020

A fear seems to spreading all around in the wake of massive spread of Novel Corona Virus 19.  Just a while ago, I received a message on my mobile phone stating that classes in colleges in Delhi have been suspended till further orders in view of the CORONA Virus scare.  This alert not just confused me but also brought out an immediate question in my mind as to whether we are adequately prepared in terms of pandemic mitigation and relief if the virus wrecks havoc in the city in the coming days!

India has not been able to insulate itself from the spread of the virus which originated in Wuhan, China and the virus has now spread to multitudes of cities in this country.  Despite strict measures in terms of screening of airlines passengers arriving from Virus infected countries, N-Corona virus has seeped into life of Indians and poses a huge threat to the Indian Health system.

Pressure on health sector especially PHCs, Local hospitals apart from large speciality hospitals shall be immense. Facing the challenge of shortage of medical facilities including medicines and accessories in the event of a spiralling spread of the virus shall necessitate advance planning on war footing.  WHO has already declared N-Corona as a global Pandemic, if such a situation persists in India then we need to tackle the problem through intervention of National Disaster Management Agency.   But who would be the volunteers if an action plan is rolled out?

It also surprised me to come across a news item that stated that a number of schools and colleges have been closed down across the country in a bid to contain spread of the virus among children and youth in the country.  The issue is significant from the point of view of facing the scourge in the wake of a large impact predicted across the world.   While on one side financial markets are bearing the brunt with tanking stocks and disruption in production lines, on the other the health sector is facing a challenge of having to come out of this scare.

Today India has the largest share of Youth force in the world.   The National Youth Policy which was launched in the year 2014 has proposed a holistic vision for youth in India i.e.  “To empower youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations”  As per NYP any person aged between 15 and 29 can be termed as Youth and as per current statistics 27.5% of India’s population falls in this category.

There has been a talk about imparting compulsory military training to youth in our country on the same lines as some other countries of the world.   This has been stressed to make youth of this nation face the real issues and also to imbibe in them a sense of National pride, discipline and harmony.  While a section of youth today is busy in studies or handling home and professional responsibilities with sincerity and girth, there is another section that is absorbed in mobile phones or wasting away youth under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  While global recession has brought about a serious challenge of unemployment, India had always been deprived of gainful employment on account of large population and lack of focussed opportunities for youth.

Perhaps in the wake of the global pandemic, it is time we wake up to a new reality and open up window of opportunities and challenge seeking attention of youth in our country.  Instead of giving holidays for schools/colleges, we should roll out a precise programme to educate and train youth in Disaster Management and risk mitigation in schools and colleges.   All educational institutions who have enrolment of students in the age group of 18-23 should compulsorily have teams from NDMA to train them for a fortnight on n-Corona.  The trained youth should be able to form groups and further train or assist professional health teams in the event of need.  The best students could be further volunteered into joining specialized programmes in future and should also be provided points to enable them to add up grades in next level defence entrance exams.

It is time India wakes up to new threats and challenges.  Youth force of our nation surely needs direction and guidance in this.   Declaring holidays in the wake of emergencies or hiding our heads under sands in the wake of internal or external emergencies would not help up alleviate problems at micro or macro level.  It is time our energies are synchronized to enable us to be brought to a position where we use our manpower especially our Youth power justifiably and to the best global standards.   It would not be out of place to mention that Youth of this nation need to be imparted soft skills in multiple streams and given the handle (of not just social media platforms) but real departments and machinery for fully gearing up for challenges of future. 

             Images courtesy: Internet

COVID-2019 Part I - Indian Consumer and markets

While India grapples with ways and plans to contain spread of novel  corona nvirus that is spreading as wildfire across the globe, immediate casualty besides human health seems to be business and commerce.  While airports across important business hubs witness lesser footfalls, many have closed down due to fears of a wider spread.   The strains of the virus were first detected in Wuhan, China towards New Year Eve, 2019 has in three months has spread to more than 70 countries across the globe.

Figures of casualties and attempts are containing further spread is being tried out by governments with a slew of measures involving health care, diplomatic interventions and information campaigns, we can take  bit of relief from the fact that deaths are being reported in 3% cases and rest 97% are reportedly recovering with quarantine.  Though no immediate relief in the form of vaccine is expected, human populations need to rest their hopes on personal immunity and nature based interventions that needs to limit the casuality.

            China accounts for about 16% of global exports and has a trade surplus of $301 bn, while India has robust trade relations with China, the impact of n-CoV is a cause of concern for us, especially Indian imports could witness supply disruptions.  While important segments of trade and business that shall witness virus impact could be Electronics especially mobile handsets, Textile, Steel, Plastics, Leather, Aluminium, Ceramics, Gems and Jewellery, paper and Consumer durable.

            India with a $56 bn imports from China witnessed a trade deficit of about $159 bn in 2019, which translates into a fact that in case of serious supply disruptions in China owing to n-CoV, we may face the imminent prospect of having to import such goods from other countries which shall further put our import budget bill under stress.  It has been recently witnessed that sluggish demand and a show down in OPEC and Russia easing crude prices have brought about a slash in oil prices, however the impact is unlikely to ease the market in India.

            If real impact of n-CoV is projected, in case of worst case scenario, cause of worry could be for the Consumer durables which has high import dependency from China as India imports about 45% of completely built consumer durable units from China apart from components servicing such durable.  Option for importers would be alternative brands or equivalent components from other countries that could further up the import bill.  From a consumer point of view such durable are going to get expensive or unavailable in next 3 to six months and cost escalation could be felt from April, 2020 onward.

           

            Auto components and spares of which 18% directly comes from China is going to be a sector of concern for automobile sector that is already under tremendous stress owing to global recessionary trends over the past several months.  It is estimated that India has stocks to cover up short term needs of auto components however in case China sees a prolonged virus threat and closure of its manufacturing hubs, India may not be prepared to calibrate or pep up domestic supplies through local manufacturing as it is not fully geared owing to easy option of imports that has been relied upon in the past.  While individual customers may see spurt in prices of components including tyres, industry as a whole should see it as an opportune time to

            Another sector of concern would be Electronic items especially mobile hand sets and other electronic components which account for nearly 67% of imports from China.  Serious disruptions could felt due to this in India. Consumers may be compelled to postpone for forego purchases due to short budget or unavailability till the threat of virus tapers down in China.  There is hope of revival of Indian industries, if it is estimated as an opportunity by entrepreneurs but of late India has turned into a middle man’s hub and businessmen are happy importing containers than setting up factories and braving the manufacturing challenges leading our country into a consumerist nation dependent on large imports of items that should essentially have been manufactured in India.

            Another high impact area is Pharma raw materials as India has high dependency on imports from China in respect of Pharma bulk drugs. Though stocks are estimated to be available for next couple of months, pharma industry could face the heat of short supplies and high prices in case threat of virus does not lessen in next two months.  It is critical that health care industry starts off a serious plan through a macro plan of pharma industry to short list items that would essentially be needed by vast majority of people in India through strong and strict governmental interventions.

           

            Energy security is crucial for any nation, India has been slowly building up base for clean energy through harnessing of solar energy.  However the flip side is that our country heavily relies on Chinese supplies for solar panels and related accessories.  China controls the world market with 80% export market in this field.  Supply disruptions due to virus could not only escalate costs but also make various projects non-viable due to project completion delays and overshot deadlines leading to legal disputes.

            India exports about 27% of total cotton yarn to China.  Even temporary closure or delay in exports is bound to put textile cotton yarn industry in turmoil owing to lower margins and slackening of domestic prices.   However if Indian market readies itself as a sourcing hub of apparel, this could be used as an opportunity to boost up domestic production of Ready made Garment industry and offset the losses owing to global recession.  However, domestic industry is surely going to face the challenge of rising prices of chemicals, machines etc that would nullify the gains.  Consumer is surely going to see a sudden spurt in prices of RMG, textiles etc and could be forced to go in for more expensive options that could be inflationary in nature.  

            In a nutshell, fall out of n-CoV especially in case of a prolonged scourge could prove disastrous for Indian Industry especially in the wake of tight credit lines and global recessionary trends.   While consumers are going to face challenges arising out of shortages and cost escalations, it is time Indian Industry rises up and proves its entrepreneurial skills to keep the damages limited through dynamic management decisions and timely governmental interventions.

Do you Pine for...

DO YOU PINE FOR….

Do you pine for …..

A place, a person, a moment

A tangible object, an intangible feeling!

A long walk could be as exhilarating and liberating as a session of serene serenade on the beach of the sea or a session of yoga on a mat. No I am not going to talk of exercise or a work out. I write this after my toe stepped on an innocuous looking object while on a morning walk yesterday.
New Delhi is chilly and hazy in winters and seeps into a tormenting pattern of summers soon afterwards. However a few weeks of bliss engulfs the city spliced between these two extremes, the Spring!

Long walk across expansive grass turf is bliss in such a season. If the esplanade is dotted with pine trees still better. Shade giving and aromatic, these trees with their distinct foliage provides the much needed succor to a mentally depressed city dweller during times of stress.

Belonging to genus Pinus, Pines are conifer trees that has more than 126 species found across the globe. In temperate regions, deserts, nearly every place except the tropics. I tread on this subject because a tree such as a Pine can evoke a diverse thought process if we tread deeper. There are actually three parts of a pine tree that are edible! The seeds or the pine nuts can be used in cooking especially in salads. If you wander into a forest and get lost perhaps you can considering using the inner bark of a pine tree which is edible and can be sliced and fried to be eaten in emergencies. The young make cones can actually be boiled to be eaten. Some needles are used to prepare tea. Even the twigs are supposed to be edible! It is understood that the pollen from pine cones (pollen is produced by only male cones) can be used as a substitute for flour or corn starch. Pines are actually very useful trees and they encapsulate many stories.

The Coulter Pine cone is perhaps the heaviest among cones of pine trees that can Weigh upto 10 pounds. The Sugar Pine cone is perhaps the longest of the cones that can grow upto 24”, it has a sweet sap which can be chewed like a gum, its nuts are edible too. This tree grows tall and can go upto 280 feet in height. The Knob cone pine is supposed to be the hardest pine with a closed cone. It relies on heat from wildfires to open up the cones. The Pinyon pine cone has large edible brown nuts and are also used for medicinal purposes. The Logepole pine is a small cone around 2 inches long. It is basically used for decorations. The Jeffrey Pine is another variety that has prickles on the end of its scales which bend inwards and can be handled safely.

As food, medicine, decorative items, basketry these aesthetically appealing trees have many unique features hidden behind their bark and branches. This tree is considered as ‘Great Pine of Peace’. However the health benefits of Pine trees are immense. The bark peels of the trees can be dried up and consumed. It can be brewed up as tea with the help of pine needles. These have high amounts of vitamin C and are extremely helpful as boosters of immune system. They also help improve vision and eye health. The edible parts of the pine are capable of eliminating pathogens from body and help lifting up skin health besides preventing hair loss. Respiratory ailments too can be cured with the help of pine cones.

A well known method of preparing and preserving a home remedy goes like this. Fresh pine needles can be soaked in apple cider vinegar for six weeks. A wide mouthed vessel can be used up for this purpose. The pine needles just need to be completely submerged in the vinegar and after six weeks an edible and medicinal potion is ready for consumption.

Though pine cone saps leave stains on clothes, they are preserved to prepare tincture and honey and are proven to have medicinal qualities. Pine resins form a component of propolis and bark of pine saplings are used to place cast for stabilising broken bones.

If walking in a park laden with pine trees makes you heady, there is a little known reason behind this. Besides the aromatic fragrance that is brought in by the breeze hitting the Pine trees, pine pollen has very high levels of testosterone. Ingestion of the pollen or tincture of the pollen is proven to increase libido.

No wonder the innocuous looking object that came in contact with me while on a morning walk yesterday was a Pine cone that led my heart to feel high and my spirit to be invigorated. A peep into the reason for my exhilaration brought to light little known facts about pine trees and their qualities. There could be thousand reasons for us to set off for picnics or morning walks but we are blessed by unseen factors such as the flowers, rivers, breeze besides the pine trees and their cones that lend magic to our existence and outings.

Nonostante la nebbia (Despite the Fog Opening Film at IFFI 2019

OPENING FILM AT IFFI 2019

Nonostante la nebbia (Despite the Fog)

Golden Jubilee version of IFFI 2019 kicks off in Goa with the Italian Film Nonostante la nebbia (Despite the Fog), a film by Goran Paskalejevic that veers around the life of a refugee, Ali Musa Sarhan who loses his parents when their boat capsizes near the Italian Coast.  Ali is accepted by a couple who has lost their child.  The psychological travails and the solace in accommodating the arab in place of their son.  Donatella Finokjaro (Valeria) and Giorgio Tirabasi (Paolo) face the challenges and confrontations within and outside their family in such an acceptance.

In a real world when hundreds of refugees scourge the streets in hope of a better life in other and seemingly better parts of the world, children and often minors are left destitute waiting to be accepted or left to decay without parental care on the streets which accentuates the issue of refugees especially minors and depicts the xenophobic fog the world is sinking into with passage of time.

[Born in Belgrade, Goran Paskaljević is a Film director, screen writer and producer who belongs to a group of Yugoslav filmmakers who studied abroad and graduated from the Film and Television Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He has made about 30 documentaries and 16 feature films.  His film Powder Keg has won the FIPRESCI prize at the Venice Film Festival and was also highly acclaimed at European Film Awards.  Goran Paskaljevic shares his time between Belgrade and Paris and holds Serbian and French Citizenship].

The film is good at story telling, however some eminent Indian film makers say that the film falls short at many places and could have touched higher levels in respect of cinematography and techniques.

Awards and recognition:

Berlin Golden Bear for Best Film
Nominated 1978 The Dog Who Loved Trains
Cannes Palme d'Or
Nominated 1985 Special Treatment
Venice Golden Lion for Best Film
Nominated 2001 How Harry Became a Tree
Festróia Golden Dolphin for Best Film
Nominated 2002 How Harry Became a Tree
San Sebastián Golden Shell for Best Film
Nominated 2004 Midwinter Night's Dream
Valladolid Golden Spike for Best Film
1995 Someone Else's America
2006 The Optimists
Pula Golden Arena for Best Director
1976 Beach Guard in Winter
1980 Special Treatment

Free Rides in Delhi

Free rides in Delhi

[Pink slips handed out to employees during recession or hard times has often been abhorred by employees workers unions but from 29^th of October, 2019, women in Delhi would be handed out pink slips in city transport buses to avail a free bus travel in the city of New Delhi.This novel project embarked upon by the Delhi Government has an added buffer. 13000 marshals are being deployed across the city to oversee that the plan goes without hitch. Marshals will not only hand over the pink slips to lady passengers they would also ensure their safety during the journey.]

Delhi has been growing over the years but it has not been able to absorb the huge rise in passenger traffic owing to multifarious reasons. While first two decades of post independence era brought about white collared workers into the government sector into the capital post seventies threw open infrastructural sectors, small scale industries and tertiary operations drawing millions into the city.  While structured construction was limited to government buildings, Corporations, Banking and Corporate enterprises a large segment of population spread like wild shrubs into shanties and JJ (Juggi Jhopri) clusters.

Delhi Transport Corporation that came into existence in 1948 later came under operated under Municipal Corporation of Delhi till 1971 and later transferred and put under the administrative control of government of NCT of Delhi.  It has a current fleet of 3900 buses apart from a fleet of 1634 DIMTS buses which takes the total fleet to 5578 buses which include AC, Non-AC and cluster bus fleet.

Over the years with rising population pressure travel in DTC buses has been a nightmare. With Choc-a-block traffic outside, scenario inside buses turned inhuman too.  People needed to pack themselves like sardines in sweaty summer heat inside transport buses and the uncouth behaviour of conductors besides reckless driving made travel in Delhi city buses a nightmare.  City buses during 80s and 90s faced immense pressure and to make matters worse cartels operated infamous Blue line buses which accounted for large number of traffic accidents in the city.  Rising number of eve teasing and sexual perversion cases inside transport buses besides erratic bus services led many middle class women to a switch over to their own private cars during the 90s and thereafter which can be attributed as the primary reason for spurt in city traffic over the years.

Hallmark of a developed city is its extensive use of public transportation which went missing in Delhi. While Delhi Metro Rail Services began its services in 2002, in the absence of last mile connectivity, many traditional commuters in city buses switched over to their own private vehicles including two wheelers and currently more than a crore of vehicles ply on Delhi roads despite a criss-cross of metro and public transport service.  Today Delhi witness a bumper-to-bumper on most days of the year with frequent traffic snarls leading to loss of precious time as well as fuel owing to such hold-ups.

Would a change happen? I believe unless majority of a city population switches over the public transport situation on ground would not change.  Perhaps an important step in this direction has been made. Today marks a deviation in the course of Delhi Transport. Perhaps it is a red letter day for Delhi as travel of women in Delhi city buses has been made free.  5558 buses operating in Delhi in which nearly 12 lakh passengers travel would witness free  ride for women. With an added fleet strength of 1000 CNG and 300 electric buses, the overall fleet strength of DTC is expected to touch 7000. Perhaps this could prove to be the game changer for improving the fleet utilization and weaning away people from taking their private vehicles on road and switching back to Delhi transport buses for travel.  I believe if Government of Delhi embarks on the plan to provide free city ride not just to women but to anyone switching back to buses a big leap will be made in managing traffic, pollution and congestion in Delhi.  Perhaps a plan to provide free and unrestricted space to Delhi Transport buses on Delhi roads (as done during Commonwealth games) would be a big thrust in promoting city buses which could see bang on timings and larger use.

     [DTC Air conditioned  Bus]