Mumbai Underground: Packed Schedule

Modi beats Mumbai fog by staying an extra night before the Indian Science Congress inauguration.

Mumbai | January 5, 2015 12:52 AM IST

4 min read

Being part of an agency that is frequently assigned important cases comes with its own set of occupational hazards. An officer with a special cell in the crime branch, which is credited with working on several important cases, was recently heard saying how he as well as almost all of his colleagues always kept a packed bag in the office so that they can leave for any place at a moment’s notice. As soon as the officer said this, his subordinate remarked, “To say nothing about the plans…” As the others started chuckling, the officer explained that every time they are sent on an assignment, they make plans to visit at least one good eatery in the city. However, each time, without fail, they return disappointed as the case takes up all the time.

‘Ahead’ of time

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken an easy way out to beat the heavy winter fog. To avoid delays and cancellation of programmes, Modi landed in Mumbai a night before the Science Congress was scheduled to begin. He stayed at Raj Bhawan overnight. Recently, Modi was at the receiving-end of the problem when his scheduled departure for Ranchi to attend the swearing-in of new Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das was called off because of bad weather. Now, despite the availability of a special plane there is a clear instruction not to take any chance when it comes to Delhi fog. Accordingly, his arrivals are scheduled ahead of time. As BJP leaders admit, “It is no secret that Modi does not like to compromise on his schedule nor punctuality.” What is interesting to note is even BJP president Amit Shah adopted the same way when he came to Mumbai for a party meeting. He ensured he reached Mumbai the previous evening so that he could begin his morning meeting on time.

Selfie bug in BMC

If you thought selfie mania can be associated only with youngsters all over the country then think again. Even corporators in the city seem to have been bitten by the bug. A senior corporator has become reputed for clicking a selfie every week at the standing committee meeting of the civic body. If this is not enough, then another corporator from the opposition is also known to “check in” on social media websites that she is attending a standing committee meeting at BMC.

Breaking Rules

Cops in Mumbai and it’s adjoining suburbs are known for being sticklers for following traffic rules. However in adjoining Uran — on the roads leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust — the police openly ask commuters to defy traffic rules if they plan to reach their destination on time. With trucks piled up for kilometres traffic cops ask car owners to drive on the wrong side of the road if they want to avoid being stuck in the traffic jam for hours. “We never stop a car even if it is being driven on the wrong side of the road,” a traffic cop explained helpfully. This ‘generosity’ of the traffic cops may help drivers of passenger vehicles however it does no good for the heavy vehicle drivers who at times take over two hours to cover a one kilometre stretch.

WhatsApp DIG AT CR

In case of any major event that draws national or at least state-wide attention, WhatsApp can always be relied upon for some comic relief. Messages about poor performers in the recent Rajya Sabha elections are still discussed with great amusement. It, hence, came as no surprise when at around 2 pm on Friday, barely two hours after services resumed on the Central Line, a message started circulating on WhatsApp. The message read, “Happy New Year. We will continue our good work this year too…starting from today…we will create many holidays for you this year…Central Railways.” Needless to say, the message went viral within minutes.

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BMC Mumbai Underground Narendra Modi