Nostalgia – The Rs. 12.50 Student’s Bus pass (Sade barah bus pass)

 

Yes, the Rs. 12.50 Student’s bus pass from DTC which remained unchanged for decades. A little increase to even Rs. 15, was met with such resistance from DUSU (Delhi University Students Union), that no one, I repeat no one dare increase it :):). Of course, there was a problem of renewing it every month. An alternative was to get it made for 3 months. It meant freedom, licence to travel anywhere in any DTC bus…Those days, needs were simpler and U special were the norms.

These memories were refreshed during a conversation with my cousin Pradeep.  They moved from Delhi to Ahmedabad a good 20 years ago. Born and brought up in Delhi, he has not visited Delhi since. So in all curiosity he queried about the status of Delhi buses. Amidst hoots of laughter and shouts we discussed the DTC buses saga. The DTC bus was replaced or over run more like it, by the much condemned Red Line. Having been contractual buses, they would stuff to capacity. Would call passengers by hitting on the outside of the bus. The shouting – Newda (Noida), Naraina, Bartania (Britannia factory on the way to Rohini)…was imitated. Pradeep had his old bus pass which he gladly photographed and sent. I think, I may have mine somewhere…will add to this photo if I find it.  The pink colour bus pass was made at Scindia House which was DTC’s headquarters. He asked me if the old yellow green standard DTC buses still ran.

I said an unfortunate "no", they have been replaced by a fleet of smart buses. There is the green one, the airconditioned red one and of course the electric vehicle the blue one.

I have been caught with life – work, home, hearth, friends…that there has been nay a time for nostalgia or reminiscing. Transport within Delhi was, "less said the better". Then Metro happened, as did Uber, Ola, BluSart and Rapido. Driving a car made life simpler, the roads were not this crowded. Now of course, navigating the roads and driving is a task and the reflexes one needs to avoid wrong lane, wrong overtake will put a race car driver to shame. Travel within Delhi became simpler and even thinking of buses or our travels to DU has been a distant memory. But those memories of idle time sitting at bus stops, watching the world go by, wasting time seems a thing of the past. I am not sure how DU students travel, whether there are still DU specials. The routes of various buses seems to have changed.

Maybe in the coming blogs, I will visit the DTC bus depots. I am told there are four types of buses – green, orange, red and blue. Blue being the e-buses. Buses are free for women….watch out for more on DTC and the current mode of transportation.