The Noida Nightmare

After staying in Noida for a whole month, I vowed never to come back again. At that time, I was interning with a TV channel in sector 63 and stayed close by in a flat with friends and fellow colleagues to make commuting easy. Compared to the hustle bustle of Delhi, Noida seemed like an unorganized, impersonal city with long lonely stretches of road and poor connectivity.

The actual nightmare was the every day commute to work. Though it took only 20 minutes to reach (a marvel by anyone’s standards), those 20 minutes were the worst. From cat calling, haggling with callous auto-wallas to almost being run down by lawless drivers (while crossing roads); it truly was a teeth gritting experience, more so for my Manipuri friend who was constantly bothered with calls like ‘chinese’ and ‘chowmein’.

To go out anywhere on our off days, we walked, changed buses, vikrams, rickshaws and walked again. Moreover, we envied anyone and everyone who owned a set of wheels. In short commuting was a pain.

Four months later, I’m back in Noida, in a different sector with a different firm but the same problem. What’s worse is that this time I have to commute from Delhi and the best and the most economic way to do so is by bus. In these 3 days I have learnt a lot.

There are a lot of blueline buses that go to Noida from ISBT provided you’re ok with literally hanging out of the bus or being cramped in with people who desperately need a shower.

The few Noida Authority buses that run are the most sought after as they take the shortest route possible. However traveling in these is far from comfortable. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat and a partner who ignores you, the one and a half hour ride can even be called pleasant. If not, stand close to a window for fresh air and start elbowing your way to the bus doors a stop early. Ignore offers for modeling, voice modulation etc. In any case, how fantastic can the offer be if it’s coming from someone who travels in a bus?

After all’s said and done, the fact remains that Delhi-Noida and inter Noida connectivity is dreadful. I, for one, am looking forward to the metro which will run from June 2009. Till then, I’ll just have to pluck my courage and carry on or work really hard at my job, get a raise and hopefully, cab service all the way to the office and back!

Maasoom Dhillon