Pune-My lost Paradise -.Loitering Around.

In the Fifties and the Sixties of the last century, Pune used to move at its own leisurely pace. During day hours, there were no speeding trucks tearing across the city streets, though present trade activities, which are being carried out from the Market Yard area were undertaken from the heart of the down-town area of Ganesh Peth. There were lot of bullock carts plying in the trading areas which had almost spotless zero accident record, excepting an odd accident when an absent minded pensioner may have strayed in the path of the oncoming loaded cart, resulting in poor animal of burden getting panicky and scattering its load on the road, thereby attracting bye-passers for a free road show.
At personal level, bicycles used to be the most popular vehicle and Pune had the national distinction of having maximum number of bicycles plying on the roads, then. All popular brands from BSA to Humber and Hercules to Hind were available in the well-stocked shops in the city and in Camp market. There used to be tax charged on the bicycles and lapse on the part of the cycle owner used to bring smile on the face and warmth to the pocket of the traffic cop, affectionately called as Mama by the public. This pet name still stands. There was also the rule of compulsory light on all cycles, plying at night and offending cycle owners used to deftly find the roads and bypasses, where Mamas were not on the beat. Further, renting of cycles was a roaring business in those days and each lane had a shop where best maintained and spotlessly clean cycles were available, on hourly and daily rental basis. I still have not solved the riddle as to how these shop owners protected their machines from thieves and cycle lifters, with their sloppy methods of records and total trust based transactions, in vogue. I think the answer lies in the high moral levels then prevailing amongst the common citizenry. I must thankfully confess that my most of the trips to the scenic spots in the radius of fifty kms, around Pune, were undertaken on the rented cycles, which I ruthlessly used, in those bygone years.
Amongst automated two wheelers, Lambretta and Bajaj scooters were most popular and in great demand. One may not believe it now when any two wheeler is available, at the show room and will be delivered before the payment cheque is separated from the book that in those days, it used to take months for a delivery of a scooter and for out of turn allotment one had to produce a recommendation letter, usually supported by a medical certificate. Sounds quite silly but that was the order of the day. However, the safest and most comfortable vehicle, both in fuel consumption and cost, was Luna. My opinion holds good even today. Wish Luna makes its come back today, as I feel it the best suited PT( personal transport) in Pune in present chaotic traffic conditions.
However, the honour for the supreme chaos of traffic and concentrated dose of pollution in city weather goes solely to ‘The Mother of all Transports’- the PMT. Over the years it has not changed its basic traits, even a wee bit and has worked untiringly towards turning this ‘Pensioners’ Paradise’ into one of the most polluted city of our nation. Its services were woefully inadequate, unreliable and commuter hostile, right from the day one. This resulted in each household having assortment of at least three vehicles, which thickened the pollution in the air and established a national record of auto accidents. If we had a good and efficient public transport like one in Chennai, Pune would have been a different city today. Instead of our city fathers (and mothers) visiting some indigenous posh hill stations or Germany, in quest of ‘knowledge’, they would have enlightened themselves immensely, had they visited Chennai or even Mumbai and studied public transport systems over there. Time is not gone even today. We should bid good bye to PMT, in whatever form it is today, and hand it over to some company that will give some profit share. We should stop considering it as a status symbol and get rid of this white elephant, without further trials to ride it profitably. At least, over five decades of trials should be considered enough for learning this elementary lesson.
I have avoided an elaborate reference to auto rikshaws, with the sole motive to avoid running into a storm at the end of this article. I still feel, Tongas would have been better than them. We have lost a great heritage vehicle in their disappearance. They would have brought a different identity to Pune, had they continued. I wish at least a part of Pune readopts them, reduces pollution and adds charm to their locality by the association with those noble animals. May be a wishful thinking but none the less a comforting idea indeed!

Sharad Pitre.
12 May 2009