Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Public Transport

Image result for double decker buses and taxis in mumbai

Public transport in India would translate into buses, trains, trams in Kolkata (Calcutta), monorail in Mumbai, taxis and auto rickshaws. Some cities like Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras) have an excellent local train network that is often used by tourists. State operated city bus services are available in all cities and are pretty frequent, providing efficient service.

Try to avoid morning and evening rush (office) hours or you could get pushed around. For the rest of the day however, buses and trains are relatively free of rush hour traffic and can be a cheap and efficient means of transport. Using local buses and trains is also an excellent way to gain a first hand experience of life in any city. Trains have a separate ladies compartment. Beware of pickpockets and do not pay attention to anyone trying to distract you. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times.

While hiring taxis or auto rickshaws it is advisable to fix the fare in advance. Do check the distance and approximate fare at your hotel or shops in the vicinity to get a fair idea before you hire one. Pay accordingly. Do not insist on the meter, or else, you will certainly reach your destination but not necessarily by the shortest route and the lowest fare. Also true, is that many cabbies and rickshaws manipulate their meters, and even locals seldom go by them. 

You may also use a taxi service like Uber and Ola, but there have been many cases of sexual assault by drivers. Public transport is much safer.

Traveling long distance by train is an experience in itself. Rail travel in India is cheap and second class rail tickets in India cost just a few hundred rupees even if you travel from one end of the country to the other. First class rail fare is very expensive, sometimes even more than airfare, and is used mostly by the affluent class 

On an inter city journey, if you really want to connect with people, I would strongly suggest you use the second class train compartment, because that’s where all the fun is. You’ll find a lot of middle class families here, and some kind of kinship develops between passengers in a compartment, some of whom may even share meals and snacks they have brought along with you. 

Make sure you carry air pillows, sheets, regular medication and other items you might need in your hand luggage. It’s also a good idea to carry a high beam torch and spare batteries wherever you travel. 

Luggage – You won’t really have a problem with theft in trains as a lot of decent passengers travel with you and will provide you with all assistance. But the railways do provide a hook next to your seat in the lower berths where you could fasten your luggage using a bicycle chain lock. That said; never leave your luggage in someone else’s care. If you need to answer nature's call on railway platforms or at bus terminals, it is recommended that you leave your luggage in the ticket collector or station master’s room or one of their offices. Always inform them of your purpose of doing so.

If you have to use buses for long distance road travel, you may use state government luxury buses. These are priced higher than ordinary buses but are comfortable, better maintained and used by most middle class Indians. Many state governments now also operate luxury Volvo buses for long distance travel, so do enquire at the counter. Volvo buses are air conditioned, luxurious and expensive by local standards, but you should find them reasonably priced and it’s worth your money. Do carry enough supplies of drinking water and light snacks to last you through your rail or road journey

It is advisable to book rail and bus journeys in advance. Your may do this yourself, or else your hotel will do it for you in exchange for a small fee. Tickets are computerized and carry all information about your journey including the fare

Long distance bus tickets are available at outstation bus terminals and train tickets at railway stations that service outstation trains. Please carry sufficient change. Reservations for rail journeys can be made online from anywhere in India or in your own country, either through your travel agent or the Indian Railways website, where you can pay using your credit card. 

But booking directly from the counter is more interactive and often a better option. There is no different fare for foreigners.

Kindly confirm all train tickets at least one day before your journey. Bus tickets need no confirmation.

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