Pedestrian was the king, but just for a day

Pedestrian was the king, but just for a day
The Times of India

Bangalore: It was vintage Bangalore in full display on Wednesday. Children were out on the streets, playing football, cricket, squirrel on footpaths, and the police had a relaxed day. Movies, masti, majaa — that was the order of the day for most Bangaloreans on the bandh.
The streets were bereft of traffic and the pedestrian was the king. The one thing that stood out in Bangalore — peace prevailing on the streets — in all areas — and a few commuters zipping past roads. However, the police were taking no chances and they were present at every street corner. Vajra striking forces were at every area as also the Rapid Action Force.
Problems were not entirely absent — passengers plying to the airport and the railway stations had a tough time negotiating with the scant autos and cabs. At the City Railway Station, a bunch of students from Presidency College had planned a college trip. Most of them were in a quandary with no transportation available to ferry them. “We all crowded into a friend’s car and arrived at the railway station at 1.30 pm for a train that’s leaving at 5.55 pm’’ said a student, Shreyas.
The scene was better at the airport because people mostly arrived in their own vehicles. Some others were not so lucky. “I have a Delhi flight in the evening and the cab fellow fleeced me. I paid Rs 700 from Lavelle Road to the airport’’ said Balwinder. By consensus, the best part of the bandh — zipping at 70 kms on Brigade Road! So what did relaxed Bangaloreans do indoors? With cable television blacking out in most areas, it was a day to catch up on movies. “My sister had never seen ‘Sholay’, which is my favourite film. So after a lazy morning brunch, we made popcorn and watched it on DVD,” said engineering student Meera Vasavi, who’s younger sister is visiting her from Shimoga.
IT professional Nakul Banga preferred a taste of the West — an Alfred Hitchcock film was his pick. But he spent a greater part of the day playing cricket with the children around his street in Adugodi. “It was great to be able to play after a long time,” he said.
Newly-married bride Anjali Singh-Raut was pampered by her husband Navin. “He made breakfast for me by the time I was up. And later, we cooked lunch together. We also visited some of our friends after 6 pm and are planning to dine with them,” she said.
It was also a great day for walking and jogging enthusiasts. For senior citizens, the sight of a quiet Bangalore, where they could actually hear the chirping of birds instead of loud honking, was a trip down memory lane.
With autorickshaws and buses offering only skeletal services, it was a heyday for horse-driven tongas, popularly known as ‘jataka-gaadi’. Passengers near the city railway station tasted adventure in the open-roof tongas that transported them at a lesser price when compared to the auto-rickshaw drivers who fleeced them.