For the uninitiated, the word BEST is not an adjective but an acronym given for the Govt. bus service which runs in Mumbai. BEST stands for 'The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking'. I was a regular traveler in the bus when I use to visit city during my breaks in engineering or when I use to work.
Once I went for my MBA, then the visit to the city became sparse and even less traveling by bus. The only change I noticed over the years was installation of Vodafone payment drop boxes inside the buses.
But today, I was forced to travel given the bad situation of parking when I was supposed to go. And to my utter surprise, I saw printed tickets being doled out by the conductors using a handheld device. My friend tells me that it helps to save time and conductor does not need to check fare and then issue one. Now, he just punches in origin and destination and voila; ticket is printed. Also, at the end of accounting has become easier with introduction of technology.
Another visible difference was installation of LCD screens which were running ads on them. And the best addition was fire extinguishers on board. I just hope that they work needed! :D
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Coincidences in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
Since the Cricket World Cup was being held in India, Indian team was in great touch, this was possibly the last tournament for Sachin Tendulkar (though I would like to see him go on and on...), everyone wanted to witness an Indian victory.
But sometimes, rather uneventful events throw up interesting coincidences or patterns and looking in hindsight, following are such events in this World Cup.
1. Sehwag scoring a score of 175 against Bangladesh in the opening match of the tournament. This was exactly the same score scored by Kapil Dev in the 1983 World cup match v/s Zimbabwe.
2. India tied a match with England. MS Dhoni as a captain had a tied match in IPL, World Cup T20 and Champion League in the editions which he won.
3. After defeating Pakistan, I personally saw a pattern and posted on facebook here "India defeating teams in EXACTLY the same order in which they were crowned champions in the past - West Indies (75,79), Australia (87), Pakistan (92)....wasnt SL the winner in 96 ;)"
4. In the meanwhile, another coincidence came up which said that calenders of the year 1983 and 2011 are same.
5. And a day before the final, SMS forward told me that all captains whose last or first name started with 'S' were being evicted - Shahid Afridi, Strauss, Smith, Sammy and so next in line is Sangkarra.\
6. I had posted this on facebook before the world cup
Cricket WC - Sachin - India
1. 1992 - did not open - out after first round
2. 1996 - opener, highest scorer - losing semi-finalist
3. 1999 - did not open - lost in super 6s
4. 2003 - opener, highest scorer - losing finalist
5. 2007 - did not open - out after first round
6. 2011 - will open....!! :)
Though, it was updated after the WC as Sachin was India's highest scorer, tournament's second highest scorer and of course, India WON!
But sometimes, rather uneventful events throw up interesting coincidences or patterns and looking in hindsight, following are such events in this World Cup.
1. Sehwag scoring a score of 175 against Bangladesh in the opening match of the tournament. This was exactly the same score scored by Kapil Dev in the 1983 World cup match v/s Zimbabwe.
2. India tied a match with England. MS Dhoni as a captain had a tied match in IPL, World Cup T20 and Champion League in the editions which he won.
3. After defeating Pakistan, I personally saw a pattern and posted on facebook here "India defeating teams in EXACTLY the same order in which they were crowned champions in the past - West Indies (75,79), Australia (87), Pakistan (92)....wasnt SL the winner in 96 ;)"
4. In the meanwhile, another coincidence came up which said that calenders of the year 1983 and 2011 are same.
5. And a day before the final, SMS forward told me that all captains whose last or first name started with 'S' were being evicted - Shahid Afridi, Strauss, Smith, Sammy and so next in line is Sangkarra.\
6. I had posted this on facebook before the world cup
Cricket WC - Sachin - India
1. 1992 - did not open - out after first round
2. 1996 - opener, highest scorer - losing semi-finalist
3. 1999 - did not open - lost in super 6s
4. 2003 - opener, highest scorer - losing finalist
5. 2007 - did not open - out after first round
6. 2011 - will open....!! :)
Though, it was updated after the WC as Sachin was India's highest scorer, tournament's second highest scorer and of course, India WON!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Harassment continues by India Today
After troubling me intially, India Today kept on pestering me. Finally, I decided to terminate the subscription with them. But alas, even that is not happening smoothly. Finally, I was advised by one of them to go to court if I was having so much problem and hence I sent a letter to them regarding the same.
----------------------------------------------------------
I subscribed to India Today in name of my mother. This was done online and a confirmation letter dated 23rd June, 2010 (photocopy attached) confirming the amount of Rs. 1,200 for one year and assigning the subscription number was sent. And this is where my ordeal starts.
It was promised that the first magazine will be delivered from issue dated 12th July, 2010 but sadly this did not happen. After waiting for some time, the helpline was contacted. If I say that they were cooperative and helpful, then it will be an appreciation from my side. Just nothing was done to rectify the same. Kindly refer to the mails sent. The same are attached. I felt as if I am banging my head to the wall. After wanting to cancel subscription and infinite follow-ups, finally first issue landed on my doorstep in mid-Aug. Since there was a delay of 6 weeks, my subscription was extended by 6 weeks at the ending date. I would like to point out that this was also NOT done by India Today on a pro-active basis but only after I insisted on getting the same done. This was confirmed over e-mail and the same is attached.
The first magazine was delivered by the distributor himself and his contact number was taken by me for a ‘just in case’ scenario. But, alas, I was so wrong! Not a week I remember where I NOT had to call him requesting him to deliver the magazine. The magazine was delivered on a Friday or a Saturday of the week as compared to it hitting the stands on a Monday. On asking the same, I was told that it is the norm. Though completely not acceptable to me, I still continued to live with it.
Come Diwali in the first week of November, I received the issue dated Nov 1, 2010 on which the Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on cover given his recent hit “Dabangg”. After that, magazine stopped coming. Personally, I was traveling and I inferred that weekly calls not being made have led to this failure. Upon calling the distributor, his reply left me shell-shocked! He was at native place and was given as an excuse of this. What kind of screwed-up distribution is this? You want me to believe that distribution at the last mile is person dependent?
This really left me irritated and hence, I decided to finally stop my subscription from India Today. Kindly understand that magazine not subscribed for adding woes in one’s life. I called up helpline to complain but the waiting period too tested my patience. After working my ways through, I was finally able to get the number of Mr. X in Mumbai. After explaining the case, he assured me to look into the case. He did back to me requesting for one more chance. I clearly explained that I have made up my mind to get it canceled and hence I just wanted to know the procedure. I was also told that it will take 3-4 weeks to get my refund. He also assured me that I just need to mention the cancellation part on mail and he will send a separate mail to take care of the same. I mailed for cancellation on Nov 27, 2010 which is attached. But, it seems that India Today has made up its mind to harass me more. I was again asked a ‘reason’ to cancel and similar non-sensical stuff was thrown at me. Kindly see the chain mail attached for details.
For example, upon demanding a breakup of refund, I got an immature and naïve reply that system generates it. Do you think such an answer is acceptable by any standard? Also, I was told that start date has been taken as July and end date as December for calculating the refund. The new start date of August came from your end and it was sad to see that records were not updated! Moreover, as already mentioned last issue received was Nov 1, 2010. This was clearly told to Mr. X in the telephonic conversation and he agreed in principle.
Even after follow-ups, I keep getting standard replies and no answer to my case. I followed it up with Mr. X too but sadly nothing came out. We are sitting in January now and still no communication on my correct refund which should be around Rs. 950 as per calculation sent by me on e-mails.
I last talked to Mr. X and was told that my case is being ‘considered’. What is there to consider here? I clearly told him that I am running out of patience and he gave me the advice to go to court. This telephonic conversation took place on Jan 7, 2011.
Upon his direction, I am writing this letter as a first step of filing a court case. Either refund my Rs. 950 (approx) as per correct calculation with interest@15% w.e.f Nov 1, 2010 + Rs. 1,000 due to harassment caused to me or let us sort out with the path suggested by Mr. X.
----------------------------------------------------------
I hope they sincerely act on this letter of mine.
----------------------------------------------------------
I subscribed to India Today in name of my mother. This was done online and a confirmation letter dated 23rd June, 2010 (photocopy attached) confirming the amount of Rs. 1,200 for one year and assigning the subscription number was sent. And this is where my ordeal starts.
It was promised that the first magazine will be delivered from issue dated 12th July, 2010 but sadly this did not happen. After waiting for some time, the helpline was contacted. If I say that they were cooperative and helpful, then it will be an appreciation from my side. Just nothing was done to rectify the same. Kindly refer to the mails sent. The same are attached. I felt as if I am banging my head to the wall. After wanting to cancel subscription and infinite follow-ups, finally first issue landed on my doorstep in mid-Aug. Since there was a delay of 6 weeks, my subscription was extended by 6 weeks at the ending date. I would like to point out that this was also NOT done by India Today on a pro-active basis but only after I insisted on getting the same done. This was confirmed over e-mail and the same is attached.
The first magazine was delivered by the distributor himself and his contact number was taken by me for a ‘just in case’ scenario. But, alas, I was so wrong! Not a week I remember where I NOT had to call him requesting him to deliver the magazine. The magazine was delivered on a Friday or a Saturday of the week as compared to it hitting the stands on a Monday. On asking the same, I was told that it is the norm. Though completely not acceptable to me, I still continued to live with it.
Come Diwali in the first week of November, I received the issue dated Nov 1, 2010 on which the Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on cover given his recent hit “Dabangg”. After that, magazine stopped coming. Personally, I was traveling and I inferred that weekly calls not being made have led to this failure. Upon calling the distributor, his reply left me shell-shocked! He was at native place and was given as an excuse of this. What kind of screwed-up distribution is this? You want me to believe that distribution at the last mile is person dependent?
This really left me irritated and hence, I decided to finally stop my subscription from India Today. Kindly understand that magazine not subscribed for adding woes in one’s life. I called up helpline to complain but the waiting period too tested my patience. After working my ways through, I was finally able to get the number of Mr. X in Mumbai. After explaining the case, he assured me to look into the case. He did back to me requesting for one more chance. I clearly explained that I have made up my mind to get it canceled and hence I just wanted to know the procedure. I was also told that it will take 3-4 weeks to get my refund. He also assured me that I just need to mention the cancellation part on mail and he will send a separate mail to take care of the same. I mailed for cancellation on Nov 27, 2010 which is attached. But, it seems that India Today has made up its mind to harass me more. I was again asked a ‘reason’ to cancel and similar non-sensical stuff was thrown at me. Kindly see the chain mail attached for details.
For example, upon demanding a breakup of refund, I got an immature and naïve reply that system generates it. Do you think such an answer is acceptable by any standard? Also, I was told that start date has been taken as July and end date as December for calculating the refund. The new start date of August came from your end and it was sad to see that records were not updated! Moreover, as already mentioned last issue received was Nov 1, 2010. This was clearly told to Mr. X in the telephonic conversation and he agreed in principle.
Even after follow-ups, I keep getting standard replies and no answer to my case. I followed it up with Mr. X too but sadly nothing came out. We are sitting in January now and still no communication on my correct refund which should be around Rs. 950 as per calculation sent by me on e-mails.
I last talked to Mr. X and was told that my case is being ‘considered’. What is there to consider here? I clearly told him that I am running out of patience and he gave me the advice to go to court. This telephonic conversation took place on Jan 7, 2011.
Upon his direction, I am writing this letter as a first step of filing a court case. Either refund my Rs. 950 (approx) as per correct calculation with interest@15% w.e.f Nov 1, 2010 + Rs. 1,000 due to harassment caused to me or let us sort out with the path suggested by Mr. X.
----------------------------------------------------------
I hope they sincerely act on this letter of mine.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Honesty pays!
Given the fact that I travel so much by autorickshaw, I am bound to meet some interesting people in Mumbaiand Delhi.
Today morning, I hired one to come to office. Since, I am used to travel the route daily, I know how much it costs to reach office from home given the traffic conditions. Midway only, I realised that meter of this person is fast by all standards.
So, I interjected him!
Me: "Boss, aapka meter fast hai." (Boss, your meter is running fast)
He: "Maloom hai. Aap wohi dijiye to sahi hota hai." (I know. You pay whatever is the correct fare)
I was taken back by his brutal honesty and handed him some extra bucks on my way out. Its not everyday I meet such 'honest' people ;)
P.S. - Adviced him to get his meter fixed asap too!
Today morning, I hired one to come to office. Since, I am used to travel the route daily, I know how much it costs to reach office from home given the traffic conditions. Midway only, I realised that meter of this person is fast by all standards.
So, I interjected him!
Me: "Boss, aapka meter fast hai." (Boss, your meter is running fast)
He: "Maloom hai. Aap wohi dijiye to sahi hota hai." (I know. You pay whatever is the correct fare)
I was taken back by his brutal honesty and handed him some extra bucks on my way out. Its not everyday I meet such 'honest' people ;)
P.S. - Adviced him to get his meter fixed asap too!
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