PS1 coach in Pallavan - A journey to remember!

PS1 - Canteen + Passengers coach

When you book tickets in Pallavan Express, specifically tell them not to book in PS1 coach unless you are desperate to travel. I know this is not possible online; but even if it is about losing reservation charges, try to re-book and get a different coach.

Last weekend, I happened to travel in this coach. One half of the coach is pantry and rest is for passengers (60 numbers). Slowly, we were able to constantly feel the oily smell and kind of mild heat. In-spite of the keeping the windows open, the smell or heat continued to be there. After crossing half-way distance, one of my co-passenger asked the railway staff to keep the main doors of the coach open for which they objected saying that someone might trip and fall if kept open. But without keeping the door open, we were not going to get relief and so after lot of argument, shouting and fighting with the pantry staff and TTE, the door was kept open and one staff stood to alert people to take care of the open door when they pass through. Once the door was kept open, it made huge difference.

The bloody TTE says we have to write a complaint about this coach to the authorities. But isn't this a common sense? Why someone would wait for a complaint to take action? Which idiot railway authority approved this kind of having pantry and passengers in the same coach? If some fire accident happen in the pantry, it will put the entire life of the passengers in that coach at risk.

Assuming Rs. 100 per ticket, railways gets Rs. 6000 for the 60 seats in that coach. Why railways have to stoop to beggars - pushing every nook & corner to be converted to seats and make money? The staff who came and argued, but then gave in to our argument said that this is how the system is, since 1983 ! Only when railway authorities travel, they would know the real problem. But then, they have every thing free and so why would they chose a second class; they will comfortably travel in Ac coach. The common man seem to be the idiot.

மேல் அதிகாரிகளுக்கு complaint எழுத சொல்றாங்க - I doubt whether it is a human or a கழுதை or பண்ணி or சொறி நாய் sitting as authority, unmindful of the ill-effect of this.

Switching from Suburban trains to MRTS

For almost two years, I was comfortably taking the Suburban Train First Class for my (earlier) office iSOFT, located near Palmgrove hotel. But shifting to new office in LB Road, Adyar posed only one problem - commuting. I just couldn't bring myself to think about driving by bike all the way. I hate to use my car for 2 reasons - it is criminal to use it for single man purpose and if there is a public transport facility, that should be availed. Of course, I don't include crowded buses as mode of public transport - they are just not ideal to travel with laptop and backpacks that too in peak hours.

I went by bike the first day. Instead of taking the known devil of Guindy route from Nanganallur, I tried to act smart by taking the Velachery route. I mentally prepared not to get agitated all the way and sure, there were lot of triggering points. The 5 minute wait at SRP Tools junction and 10 minute wait to take right towards Tiruvanmiyur from Tidel side almost got me. While coming back, I decided to take Guindy route, but got stuck near Raj Bhavan for 5-10 minutes. I decided it is not going to work and so took the MRTS option the next day.

From my place, it is just a 4 Km neat straight road to Velachery station. The new road would connect with the Mount station and then to GST as per the plan in few years time. It is quite a free road (at least now). I took the train and got down at Kasturba Nagar station (12 minutes journey) and from there, it was 10 minute walk to the office. I came back the same way and didn't feel any strain or stress. I took a season ticket - quarterly pass up to Beach. So excluding my bike ride up to the station, parking and reaching the platform, it is only 30 minutes to reach office from the time I board the train.

One biggest advantage is that MRTS are neither crowded nor permit foot-board traveling unlike suburban trains. The little drawback is the frequency in the non-peak hours; have to track the latest timing and reach the station. Otherwise, spend up wasting 20 or 30 minutes in those big stations.

Samsung Mobile - My experience

I was a staunch Nokia user, but when my one month old Nokia 3110C got pick-pocketed, I had to chose Samsung M200 because it was the only mobile available in that price range with similar features. Just four months into use, I found it restarting often without any specific sequence. I took it to service centre where they replaced the software but again the same problem kept occurring. I took it the second time and told him to either rectify or replace as it was within warranty period of one year.

I was told that there is indeed a mother board fault and so, they will get it replaced - either with a new mother board or set. I was asking for a set as replacing MB is going to be same as new one. Luckily, they didn't have any M200 in stock and so they offered C3212 Dual SIM model as replacement. I was asked to bring the old mobile with the box and accessories to the Samsung office at Radhakrishnan Salai and was given the new one. The unfortunate part is that the warranty start date of the new mobile is same as the previous one (it takes the date of old mobile purchase date).

So, if your mobile is giving some problem in the first year, insist on getting it replaced and don't easily accept the "software re-installation" solution. Why should a software problem occur in the first year of purchase and who knows it that would solve? We, as layman wouldn't know and have to rely on them. Why not insist to give a bug free product.

In my case, I was curious to know why they offered C3212 as replacement. I was told that they will try to give a new model whose price is same as the problematic mobile (and ignore if the difference is Rs. 100 or so).

Grammar Guru - A must read for anyone who wants to write better English

The article that appears in 'Times of India' every Monday gives useful insight into understanding the English grammar. It is written by Dr.Saraswati in simple manner that anyone could follow. Last week, I read on the usage of the definite article 'the' and I felt myself bad on not having understood 'the' completely.

I don't know if this article is read by the people who require it most - the English students' and those in industry who interact with external customers. Importantly, if these are taught in schools and colleges by the English teachers' in the form of weekly activity, it will enrich the student and make teachers' also to learn more.

In India, we don't teach the essentials or the practical application of a theorem. Exams are for the sole purpose to score high marks and proudly display certificates.