Blue Line

They call the Blue Lines running in that crappy city we call the capital of India as the killer line. Almost every day, somebody is run over by one of these errant buses, and the response is now predictable - people take to the streets, damage public property, police hangs around, politicians mumble something, and the ants carry about their lives.

True, there are many blue line buses that are at fault, but do you notice the logical inconsistency in my statement? The entire media jugglery has harped on these errant buses, as it they are robots driving themselves around and running over people. Buses are compounded, and fined and are subjected to whatever 'humiliation' that the illustrious administrators of Crappy Delhi seem fit, but the focus on the drivers seem to be missing.

True, by confiscating buses they may hope to influence the bus owners - many of who are local politicians and other officials - into forcing their drivers to do a better job, but wouldnt it have been better to just say it straight to their faces?

There was a training program that the department of transportation conducted for all blue line bus drivers. Less than 40% showed up. Some whimper was heard in the media about this, but its lost in the sea of other bullshit. What I do know is that the safest car, or bus for that matter, can be ruined in an instant if an idiot is behind the wheel. That is the case with New Delhi. Even a khatara bus can do yeoman's service if it is run with efficiency and professionalism. But professionalism and efficiency are two words that are only seen in rare cases in India, and especially in the Governmental context.

I get to see Sheila Dixit vociferously claiming action, and I get to see that dirty man, Harun Yusuf, talk with a straight face about how things will change. Nothing will change.

I got to see great political unity in Delhi when all the politicians got together to cover their asses when their pawn, Ashok Malhotra got caught. Of course, that issue died slowly. Never mind the crores of rupees and acres of land involved. I am sure i'll get to see the same political dexterity in this case well.

There is no one solution. In fact, there is no solution at all. People will still never learn to drive, the two-wheelers will still showcase their death-defying stunts on the road, including driving on the wrong side, zig-zagging between lanes, crossing at will, but if someone's act comes to an immature end, of course, that person is not at fault. I get to see this despicable form of driving everyday, and I know it takes years to condition somebody to do something different, and this is a whole generation of awful drivers with non-existent regards for rules. It will only take a big stick for errants to force some change, and given the spinelessness of our politicians to take bold decisions, I dont see that happening at all.