During my first year of joining work, I was not sure of exact location where my office would be and have stayed at a location from where all the offices would be equidistant. When my project was finalised, my office was at an hour distance and I would take office bus. Most of the times, we (along with my roomies) ended up missing the bus and would take public transport. I still remember the days that we have got into the autos to travel a distance of 500m to catch the bus from the stop or ending up travelling in the same auto chasing 4-5 km till the time bus stops at toll plaza and we could get into it. It was always a fun time but I don't remember any fights or arguments with auto walas to be precise Mumbai auto walas. When I shifted nearby office (~1km) still getting into autos was easy and I just had to pay by meter! I never wanted to have my personal vehicle while I was in Mumbai as local commute (by bus, auto, local train) was always easy.
After I shifted to Bangalore, I realized that commute by public transport can be costly and nerve racking too. Everyday on my way to office I would think should I get a bike? Should I take a bus and walk? Should I do bike/car pooling? I had even tried to take an auto on monthly basis.
Though initially I just had to take auto for my visits to doctor which was rare( kind of once or twice in a month) but when I joined back office I got to know the real pain. My home was ~3.5kms from office and ideally by meter it would be ~₹40 but the challenges I faced were
1. Most of them will not be ready to go
2. If they happen to say Yes, they will directly start from ₹100 which you should understand means they are not going to come.
3. For most of autos, meters are just a showpiece.
Hardly there were days when I was lucky enough to get auto by meter or for ₹60. Oh! I missed Mumbai autos so much.
I made my mind to write this post after one of my argument with one of them. I was already getting late and had almost walked a km when I got into this auto. I very well told him my destination and he agreed for ₹50. I was feeling happy that I got the auto finally when he stopped for a lady, she wanted to go off side and hence I told him no and what did he do? He dropped me almost after an km, and said you told this as destination and was not at all ready to take me to my office. I was so furious that I just handed him ₹20 and got down. He stated with his bad words in Kannada, I surely cannot understand them but can make out those were bad words. I only know how I controlled myself and reached office.. I didnot wanted to take an auto from then but did I have any option? Obviously No!
Hopefully rules in Bangalore get strict so they end up using only meter.
