NANDITA J, in a letter to the editor of Deccan Herald:
“While waiting at the bus stand, I recently experienced some of the resentment commonly voiced against the ‘greater mortals’—the IT folk!
“Half an hour had passed without a single bus stopping by as the numbers of the waiting lot multiplied. Public buses were plenty but they were all ferrying the folks from Infosys, Wipro, etc.
“Should public property be used to serve private companies?
“For the comfort of a minuscule percentage of Bangaloreans travelling by air, trees have been massacred, roads widened and special AC buses pressed into service. The pricing is so exorbitant that no ordinary commuter can afford it. As a result these Vayu Vajras and Suvarnas run mostly empty or occupied to not more than five per cent capacity.
“But what else can you expect in the new capitalist India? Truly, there is no value for life here, specially if you happen to be poor.”
Photograph: courtesy Aseef Syed via Picasa
Also read: Three reasons why everybody loves to hate IT
Nanditha has a strong point there and the picture shows the true today’s Bangalore.
The government should think of the common person than VIPs(VIP companies) first. Why dont The rich IT and BT companies own their own fleet of buses for the employees? Duddaillava ? ayyo paapa.
Churumuri should also think of common souls first!!
did the HAL, NAL, BEL buses stop by any chance …what a loser
NAL, HAL, BEL, ISRO buses are their own….not the public transport converted to private transport…. think before talking rubbish …
As a young school kid I remember renting out KSRTC buses for private travels. The idea was on a government holiday, when buses are general docked in bus stands, we might as well pay a nominal amount and rent them for private use.
The bigger idea was to make the best out of what was available publicly than consulting a private guy to bring his bus on road.
Nandita, so are these buses carrying IT folks. Rented by their companies for private use–mostly at a higher price. There seems to be a logic behind: why spoil the environs adding more private buses (remember they all can afford expensive buses), instead rent out public buses that run empty in some routes and deploying them here to ply their employees.
If they had deployed their own buses, then your vengeance would turn around forcing you to write “how these private buses are adding to a lot of environmental pollution, traffic and what not.”
Vayu Vajras & Suvarnas cater to a different segment, and the need for its existence is a different topic to discuss.
Thanks God, Sree Reddy did not blame northies for this. Jokes apart, its tue that just 20% of population uses private transport but these 20% are vociferous lot and road widening, volvo services, airport are meant for these folks only. They never care that 42% of indian population can not arrange 2 meals a day and 30% of indian population goes to bed empty stomach. Instead of focussing more on rich people why cant govt give equal attention to the plight of poors.
Excellent article by Tarun Vijay on this.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Columnists/Tarun_Vijay_Poverty_is_terrorism_too/articleshow/3427209.cms
What Nandita J forgets is that
1. Running buses for profit is not allowed when the BMTC is is taking money to provide you these buses.
2. The buses have been provided so that fewer people run their own two wheelers and four wheelers on the roads.
Of course we could follow Nandita J’s “pro-poor” prescription only to have a Mr. Nanda K writing in the next day complaining about
1. Allowing IT companies to make a profit by letting people use the buses given to them BMTC
2. The increasing congestion caused by IT company employees using their cars/two wheelers to work.
Lose-lose isn’t it?
Have less children – it will make your burden less.
Well..Apparently it seems IT /BT is the casuse of Bangalore’s all woes..This article make me puke for the gross generalisation
1) It is well known that anybody can hire KSRTC/BMTC buses per KM basis. Lot of organisations other than IT/BT are also hiring BMTC buses. Many popular schools hires these buses. According to statistics provided by the BMTC, 247 buses were hired by Bangalore schools and colleges during 2008-09. So why dont you blame these schools as well?
2) What author not realising is, these buses are making people to use less private trasnports for their commuting thereby helping reduction of traffic congestion.
3) Blame the government if there are not enough buses for public transport.Its BMTC’s duty to have enough buses for public transport and hiring. Why blame IT? Nowadays it has become a fashion these days to blame IT folks by hook or crook.
4) Volovos charge a premium and if rich prefer volvo for comfort , why complain? BMTC is not fool to run these buses in loss. It is better to have choices than no choice. If these buses are stopped,tHose peole who travel in these buses use their private transports which will increase the traffic problem
I want to make one more thing clear here that Wipro is using the BMTC service they have contract with Private bus operator. So please think twice before commenting. And also what is problem if the Infosys. TCS, Wipro, and other IT companies uses the BMTC service. They are paying for it, they are not taking any free service. Its Govt duty ply more buses where it is required. Just don’t blame all the time on IT companies.
Shows India is a third world country.
I agree 100% with ‘vinay’ (complete lowercase, as opposed to Vinay with uppercase ‘V’, completely different persons).
Losers. The IT industry is a really convenient target every time, isn’t it?
First off, IT industry guys are ‘common folks’ too. Agreed, an average IT guy makes more money than the average worker in other industries. But the average ‘IT guy’ is not stinking rich, not by any stretch of imagination. In an average IT company in Bangalore, not more than 10 – 15% of the employees drive cars to work. Not more than 20-25% drive two wheelers. The rest of them use public transport, or company transport. The average IT guy is a foolish consumerist and does not mind splurging on Reebok, Inox, TGIF, etc. etc.. which leads to the impression that IT guys are damn rich. The IT industry workers are also ‘common man’. The media hype, including articles like this one, contribute to the impression that IT guys are Godly and super mortals. I doubt if any IT guy thinks this way himself or herself. Get out of the idea that IT folks somehow need to be treated differently from the rest of the population. Miss/Mrs. Nandita, you certainly think so – get out of that mindset.
Really, if the IT companies start buses of their own, people will start cribbing that they are contributing to the traffic instead of using existing BMTC, they are acting elitist and aloof, and so on..
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Dr. Sree Reddy & Sandesh:
Hello, if they indeed start fleets of their own, you will be among the first ones to say that IT guys are acting aloof and elitist, and so on.. (Some companies do have private buses btw).
Sandesh, you are the one who is talking total rubbish here, not ‘vinay’. Tell me, why the hell should an IT company start their own private fleet? An IT company outsources its catering, its housekeeping, and so on..
Why, even maintenance of computers and IT admin tasks are outsourced to other IT companies. Large semiconductor manufacturers outsource their entire supply chain and logistics planning to other IT companies. All IT companies outsource their finances to other companies. Has your esteemed self ever thought about that? WHY the devil should IT companies manage their own bus fleets?
PSUs have this culture of maintaining everything internally. In public sector banks like SBM, even the driver is a bank employee. There is not much concept of ‘outsourcing’ and hence, BEL, HAL, etc. run their private bus fleets. However, if gems like these are allowed to have their way, they will ensure that every company manages ALL its operations internally, completely rubbishing the concept of ‘core competency’, and will lower effeciencies to the level of the sickest PSUs faster than you can spell ‘loser’.
Dr. Sree Reddy, the IT-BT companies have enough money, but remember this: if they give up this BMTC concept, they will not have any feasible alternative given BMTC monopoly over bus transport in Bangalore. And they will not, and should not maintain their personal fleets, as I explained above. And once that happens, guess whats going to happen? The IT companies will simply hire more of the Sumo/Indica cabs. Hah! They have enough money, don’t they? And then, Dr. Sree Reddy, you will come up with a new post decrying the IT companies for polluting the air, not encouraging public transport, etc. etc. etc..
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
In fact every bus on road is good news. Cannot understand whats wrong with the infosys and other buses. If all of them inside took to personal vehicles it would be hard to imagine what state Bangalore would be in. We need to move everyone in personal vehicles into these buses. Every which way possible!
Once again, I feel we have to develop an collaborative attitude towards solutions . Wishing one section or the other away or seeking overnight solutions never works in my view.
Do remember IT companies have a choice between BMTC and an SRS. They pay it either way. To the employee of the IT company it is an out of pocket expense.
BMTC stands to benefit in terms of running a profitable state owned service.
BMTC needs to move to the next step of diversifying into other modes of mass transit and not restrict itselt to bus alone.
It appears there’s application of outsourcing concept. Then the questions that follow this statement is who is outsourcing from whom? The organisation that outsources is primarily guided by profit and convenience considerations. The organisation from where the particular outsourcing is made is also guided by profit consideration! Does it have spare capacity to offer?
Now another point that comes to my mind is whether unrestrained expression of protest would really help us? Say for instance, where should these activities go? The agriculture is telling don’t take my land; the tribes are telling don’t take our land; the environmentalists are telling don’t take our forest; the heritage people, the religious people, and people of all ilk do the same and so on. If we reach an answer to this then we can relocate Bangalore. Let’s not forget: Even Vietnam is waiting; people good at French can quickly learn English!
Thanx.
Nanda
http://ramblingnanda.blogspot.com
http://remixoforchid.blogspot.com
Who cares if BMTC/KSRTC are the only profitable state owned transport corporations in South India?
What good does their profit bring if they cannot ply the necessary number of buses in busier routes?
If they can’t do it they should let private players to operate buses. Why should buses hired by private companies enjoy same set of subsidies or even get discounts by a State owned company? No sane business will take a hit to their revenue and provide buses at a subsidised price.
The solution is very simple! Tax IT/BT and other MNC companies and run free city buses from the city center to residential areas (say a distance of up to 15 km or more). From then on, a small fee can be charged to ferry passengers to their final destination (varying ticket prices based on distances). Of course some restrictions can be placed on carrying goods on these buses like a small bag per passenger and so on. Folk wanting to transport goods can take regular buses. Every body wins! I have seen and I have used this service in Perth, Australia in 2005. The only people who will be upset would be the conductors of these buses. I have been crying hoarse at Infosys and others that they should start or atleast fund a service voluntarily. May be some revenue can be gained through the sale of advertising inside and outside these buses (painting, ads, LCD monitors on the bus, piped music radio and so on)…
It is true that the present and previous Governments have failed to show a long term vision on the connectivity to BIAL. The huge sums earmarked to build a link to BIAL and in the process chop several thousand trees is not justifiable. But by utilising the existing rail link, the Government can run good trains and satisfy the requirements of BIAL users instead of spending thousands of crores.
At the same time her argument against a particular sector utilising BMTC buses does not go well as this practice has significantly cut down the private vehicles on road and also provided a safe mode of commuting long distances. Probably she is also not aware that that this practise is prevalent with many schools and Govt entities like HAL, BEML as well.
There is nothing wrong in BMTC plying part of its fleet for an assured income. Given the shortage of buses to serve the other citizens of Bangalore, BMTCs inefficient route planning is one reason and the Corporation should conduct proper passenger traffic surveys and implement the grid-wise movement of buses without any delay. Building TTLCs for passengers should be focus and not letting them out to retail chains like Big Bazaar.
Her letter to DH is more out of frustration; by and large has no logic
To vinay or Vinay….. (now I am confused :))
“Sandesh, you are the one who is talking total rubbish here, not ‘vinay’. Tell me, why the hell should an IT company start their own private fleet? An IT company outsources its catering, its housekeeping, and so on”
I never spoke anything about IT company or it’s starting bus service or not…. I only said that NAL, ISRO, BEL buses are their own and not BMTC…. This was a response to “vinay”‘s comment calling the OP a loser since HAL, NAL, BEL buses didn’t stop.
Regarding vinay’s comment that HAL, BHEL and NAL buses did not stop!!!.
In late 80s, I used to wave one rupee note while walking from domlur school to NAL apartments and it used to create a traffic jam of sorts on airport road because all the drivers of HAL, BHEL and NAL used to stop by inquiring if I needed a lift.
Often the bus drivers used to fight among themselves for stows like me who used to line the pockets of drivers. :-) . Have the times changed now?
@Arun
Nanditha might have aired her frustration, however the ground reality is in a Capitalist society a larger number of the population is being overlooked. That is the crux of the matter. After half an hour of waiting she still did not get a single bus while she watches a plenty of Govt buses plying for IT.
Does BMTC turned a blind eye to the common public is the moot question ?
Govt apathy towards public is palpable….
It is fashionable for people like “v”inay and “V”inay to call all critics of IT/BT as losers. They have nothing else to say and a hollowness in them to critique. For all you know, the Nanditha that has written the letter has made an observation as a common person and that does not merit calling her a “loser”.
There are valid arguments both for and against use of BMTC buses by Infy, Wipro, etc.
Yes, running buses is not their core operations and they have a right to outsource that service. They also have a right to use BMTC buses if they are available at a cost that makes sense to the IT companies.
Question then should be asked of BMTC – are they right in giving the buses to IT companies.
1) many people have said that schools use BMTC buses. And that such usage by “institutions” is optimum utilization of spare capacity.
2) difference between schools using it and IT companies using it – schools use it once in a while and on weekends and on holidays. spare capacity logic applies here and strain on normal functioning of buses and availability to common man is limited
3) however, regular usage of IT companies on working days (peakhours) does not merit the “spare capacity” logic. In fact, such usage takes away the capacity and creates scarcity of capacity when the “normal users” most need it.
4) So, will the IT companies pay a premium for such usage? Is the BMTC already charging premium? Does BMTC have a long-term contract with these IT companies with a clear default penalty clause incase they terminate the contract with BMTC?
5) If answers to 4 above is yes, then ok. such premium can be used to fund more buses for the benefit of common man
6) If answers to 4 above is no, then the Nandithas and Nandas have every right ask WTH? Why cant these IT companies go to other bus providers? Why should BMTC provide these buses to these IT companies?
7) Holier-than-thou IT companies with their CSR mantra should introspect and not shy away from these questions.
8) Congestion, pollution, etc can still be addressed by IT companies paying a premium to BMTC or by them going to other private operators. So, non-issue.
And “v”inay and “V”inay – just to repeat, not everyone outside IT and not everyone who criticizes IT industry is not a loser!! It is indeed time to get some vinaya.
Yella OK:
All right, perhaps it was not right to call the individual ‘Nanditha’ a loser. But what I have consistently observed is, just because one happens to be in the ‘IT field’, one has to constantly face and field all kind of crap. It would be too much to type everything here, suffice it to say that most people target the so-called ‘IT professional’ and ‘IT companies’ very unfairly.
Saar, the engineering college where I studied used contracted BMTC buses everyday, not just on weekends and holidays. Several colleges and schools do have a contract with BMTC for daily customized service – its not just the IT companies.
YES, IT companies do pay a premium for BMTC services. For example, from Whitefield to Hebbal, the cost of a monthly pass is Rs. 1400. For 22 working days, that comes to Rs. 63 per day. The rates are certainly premium.
The IT companies try to ‘outsource’ their transport needs. BMTC supplies buses and charges a premium rate, and runs profitable routes.
SO, where is the problem now? With the ‘IT companies’ or elsewhere?
Why is BMTC giving buses out on hire during peak hours instead of running them on busy routes?
@Vinay: I think the reason people from IT companies face all kind of crap is because there are people like you call everyone else “losers” at every given opportunity.
@”Vinay and vinay”
just a typo error or two different people?
HAL, BEML public sectors owned their own buses and they used to pick up their employees only. BTS (old name of BMTC) used to run college specials connecting educational institutes and important localities. (Only college students/ employees boarded the buses). IT companies can also do the same way. Why should the buses run by IT companies pick up others? They will pick up their employees.
HAL etc did the same. Instead of using individual cars for transportation, public transport is always better and it is less pollution.
The last post has explained well. I dont see why Churumuri publishes only partial facts and puts it for discussion.
Some of these IT guys expect preferential treatment in all they undertake. You are not gods or supernatural existence.
Why should I be damned? (Mind your language, please)
Vinay – It was not about you calling “Nandita” loser (I dont even know her). It is about the mentality of calling “a loser” every one non-IT or every IT-critical person”.
Secondly, very happy, if IT companies are indeed paying a premium. (Hope these engg colleges are also paying a premium). It is not for me to judge whether Rs.63 is premium enough or not. Only two points I make are:
1) BMTC should charge premium (adequate) – keeping their objectives in mind and opportunty loss, etc.
2) IT companies should stop cribbing about that premium
Everythng else is redundant.
Dr. Sree Reddy:
Two different people, not a typo.
You have missed the point I tried to explain. Why should IT companies run their own buses? That is not ‘their business’. Please re-read what I wrote a few posts above. BMTC provides buses, IT companies hire those, IT employees pay premium rates for the service, BMTC makes a profit (very good profits are made from these ‘IT buses’). With this profit, BMTC can run more buses, provide better coverage, etc. etc.. Is there anything wrong with this?
The media has hyped the IT industry, everyone else thinks that IT folks are ‘superior mortals’. A majority of the IT folks themselves do not think so, quite a lot of them are sick of their jobs. It is the media, bloggers, etc. who have propogated this IT image.
Yella OK:
What?? No IT company ‘cribs about the premium’. Where did you get that one?
abhipraya:
You seem to be a ‘loser’. There, now an IT guy has called you a loser. And you’ll make me face all kinds of crap now. I need to duck, fast!
Dr. Sree Reddy:
And where did I tell you to be ‘damned’?? I said, “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” meaning, IT companies are currently being ‘damned’ for hiring BMTC buses, they will also be ‘damned’ if they use their private buses too (increasing traffic, acting ‘aloof’, etc. etc.).
@Yella Ok,
First of all , many schools and colleges uses BMTC for daily operations to pick up and drop children just like IT comapnies. I agree with you that IT companies should be charger a premiuim but what level of premium should be charged, has to be decided by BMTC, not IT comapnies or schools as BMTC is the best judge for their resources, keeping in mind that general public shouldn’t suffer.
This is just a blame game…. Good TimePass on churmuri.
Real problem with the bengaluru is its Ignorant, careless people(native and migrants), they lack love towards this charming city.
wake up friends….. stop this blame game.. be responsible, give your city a life.
(I am not politician.)
@Vinay
Ok got it.