Metered down @ 02224937755/ 24937746

All Mumbai commuters can now heave a sigh of relief. In case you want to travel to a particular place and the driver (be it rickshaw or taxi) refuses to take you to your destination, reach out to Mumbai Traffic Helpline @ 02224937755/ 24937746.

Here's how it works : Let's say you have to go from Pt.A to Pt.B. On spotting an empty rick/ cab you ask the driver to stop. By all means he will, but the minute you tell him the destination many a times he might refuse to go there, citing reasons like there's too much traffic to my tyre is about to break to there's no gas to something as lame as this vehicle is local :-p. By now you must have already got into the vehicle. When he refuses to move, dial the helpline 02224937755/ 24937746. A police officer will answer your phone immediately. You tell him, I boarded the vehicle from Pt. A and I intend to go to pt.B and the driver refuses to go there saying blah blah blah.. whatever the excuse. The inspector will want to confirm if the meter was up. If was tilted sideways before you boarded the vehicle, then you as a passenger are at fault. As apparently sideways means the driver is off-duty and you can't win the case. Once the inspector confirms the meter was up he will ask you for the vehicle registration number and then you will need to hand over the phone to the driver. There will be an exchange of arguments and finally the driver will agree. He has to. If he still insists to not budge, then the inspector will send a wireless message to the nearest traffic police guy and he will come up to you. This could take around 10 mins. And the cop will then take away the driver's licence. It has worked for me all the time. I don't know what's the number for outside Mumbai. I sincerely hope they implement this strategy all across.

Points to remember:

• The Meter has to be UP AND NOT SIDEWAYS
• Especially for ladies:Try this stunt at a public area and not some isolated locality
• Be quick to note down the vehicle registration number
• Ensure there is enough battery charge in your cellphone

PLEASE PASS ON THE NUMBER TO WHOMSOEVER YOU THINK MAY NEED THIS DISTRESS-CALL NUMBER!

I repeat the number 02224937755/ 24937746.

Cruising by the Gateway!

One of my favourite things in the world...to just go for a boat ride at the gateway. I specially like the part where the boat leaves the shore... Feels like all my worries are drifting away... after about half an hour when the boat returns the shore , an elation sets in.. of a fresh beginning!

FINE is NOT okay!

It's always been the case that whenever I am in a hurry, a catastrophe is just waiting to explode.

Me and a couple of my friends were supposed to throw a surprise birthday party for another friend of mine. Was supposed to reach well in advance and plan the whole thing out. The venue was this huge mall up North. The fastest and cheapest way to reach the venue was our good ol' lifeline of Mumbai – the Local Train! Being a sunday, one can expect a queue of anywhere between 10ft to 25 ft to get the ticket. To make matters worse, I was running a wee bit late. So I ask Piyadee (my eldest Sis-in-law) if I could borrow some Coupons ...She hands over half booklet...As a worst case scenario, she also gives me her railway pass...but then again it has her snap stamped on it.. I couldn't possibly use it. As for the coupons, I still I think it's the best thing that the Railways could come up with...a great time saver. No queues...just punch your coupon and you are ready to travel. Don't really understand why people don't stick to coupons rather than stand in those mindless queues. No extra money is charged whatsoever. Anyways, there I was at Santacruz station, punched my coupons and waited for the train to arrive. A rather smartly dressed TC (Ticket Collector) approaches and asks for my ticket. Fair enough! I flaunt my punched coupons. To my sheer surprise it is refused outrightly. I had punched used coupons. So basically I was about to travel without a ticket. He takes me to a secluded cabin..Man! I have been travelling for a year from Santacruz..and I never knew about the existence of this cabin.. I have to pay a fine, he says. How much??.. Rs.261/- (this amount includes the ticket cost which i was expected to buy in the first place). He starts a trivial conversation.. Are you studying or working?? ..I work as a writer (hate the blank look on people's face when I tell them I am a copywriter...writer is a safe bet) ... In a newspaper??...no. no.no..I work for an advertising agency (he seemed rather relieved on hearing that) Where are you going?.. With a sad face, I inform him that I was on my way to attend a friend's birthday party. I ask him, can the amount be reduced?? He asks, You don't have money to pay the fine?.. Well, I do but I will have to take it out of the amount that I was willing to pay for the birthday gift... He empathizes and says he would only take Rs.150/- .. I ask..how would that help?? He tells me he would consider another offender and club my fine charges alongwith. I clarify, so a receipt won't be made right??..Correct!! So that means the money would basically go into your pocket (Darn!! I should learn not to put my foot in my mouth)... He smiled back and handed me the receipt..

Welcome to the Deadly Gallows!!

At first glance it might remind you of the execution days back in the early 20s. Well! come to think of it, a trip aboard a Virar Local train (Luggage Compartment) at rush hour is no less a suicide mission.. Mind you, this was only 1/6th of the rush-hysteria!!