Vol.1 No.

20 / April 2012

Supply Chain India

Laugh or Cry? Dunno

Ramesh Kumar, Publisher & Editor-At-Large
Ashok Yadav (See photo above) did not anticipate the early morning hit squad. But they were there. Not one, but foursome. A pot-bellied uncapped traffic constable with a handlebar moustache standing in the middle of the National Highway 2 waved us down. We were planning to reach Kanpur, just 50 km away on Day three after leaving Gurgaon with a nine Maruti passenger cars for delivery to two different dealers a day after Holi, the festival of colours. The previous night, we had parked the 22 metre long horse-cum-trailer belonging to Mercurio Pallia Logistics, one of the leading vehicle carriers in the country, at a sprawling private parking lot, for a fee of Rs.25 per vehicle. Honestly, I was unaware of this halt because I had gone to sleep in the lower bunker behind the drivers seat soon after dinner at a dimly-lit highway dhaba around 10 p.m. Poor Ashok, in his early twenties, on his maiden mission for his new employer, was without any blanket or any covering. Neither did I have anything to beat mid-February chill in northern India. Though it was not bone-numbing, the biting cold you cannot ignore. Somehow, both of us managed to sleep through the night with the hope this journey would end for both of us in a few hours: he would empty his load and proceed to Lucknow for fresh load at Tata Motors and I would proceed to Allahabad to meet the son of a deceased truck driver killed on highways by a posse of RTO officials September last year near UPBihar border for refusing to pay a bribe of Rs.50! In fact, the young Gupta (18 years) had twice called over phone from Siruthu, 60 km before Allahabad, seeking confirmation of my visit to his home. Man proposes, God disposes. How true! Ashok had no recourse but to park the vehicle on the roadside. Through the rearview mirror, I watched the fat cop walking upto our vehicle and climbing into the cabin from conductor side. Though he saw md with a notebook and camera in hand sitting in the back seat, he ignored and began demanding the kagaz (papers of vehicle and load). Yeh toh Maruti ka gaddi hai. Aap kyun parishan kar rahe ho? (These cars belong to Maruti Suzuki. Why are you troubling us?) politely asked Ashok.

Chup. Kagaz nikhalo, (Silent. Show the papers) demanded the cop.

Ashok opened the locker above his head, took the paper out and shoved into the hands of the cop. Not this one, idiot! Your vehicle papers, shouted the uncapped traffic constable. Silently, Ashok handed the same. Thats when the cop turned towards me to ask: Who are you?

environment, Sir! How can we allow them to do this? Tell me, what to do, Sir? Whatever you say, we will oblige. What a drama! I told him to do what he believes to be the right thing! Without batting an eyelid, he challaned him Rs.5,000! Others also received same treatment! Just and legal, no doubt. The National Permit of these vehicles were confiscated and asked to collect the same from the Kanpur court a week later. When I offered to pay the fine on the spot, they declined. Before we moved out, Kushwaha and his team shook hands with me. They actually won this round. Sir, please tell Delhi that UP RTOs are doing a wonderful job on the highways, Kushwaha requested me. Once back in the vehicle, Ashok snapped: Sirji, if you were not there, these goons would have collected Rs.1,000 and allowed us to proceed. You robbed them of their income! They will curse you for this. But they will make it up by demanding more from the next batch of hapless victims. I dont know to laugh or cry. Ive been checkmated.

I said, I am from Delhi and conducting road survey of how drivers are treated on highways. He looked at the notebook and camera and did not say anything. He jumped out, followed by Ashok. Fifty metres away, I noticed a full-khakhi uniformed and capped Inspector on a motor cycle and two more constables with at least three more vehicle drivers in discussion. I decided to maintain a distance to watch whats happening. I also got out and began shooting pictures of passing vehicles on the NH2 and noticed also that I was being watched by the crew. A few minutes later, I saw Ashok waved and asked me to join him. When I reached the spot, J S Kushwaha, the traffic inspector, smiled at me and shook hands. Sir, we are doing our duty. I understand you are from Central ministry doing a survey on road. Look at them. They are driving without proper papers, sir! began to rattle though I demanded no explanation. He went on to add: When we stop them to check, all complain that we harass them. See for yourself. Your own drivers vehicle do not have pollution certificate. They are spoiling the

Kushwaha is not alone in duping me. Yet another roly-poly hoodwinked me on the outskirts of the holy city of Prayag or Allahabad a few weeks ago, which I will share later. He was smarter than his Kanpur counterpart. Send your feedback to ramesh@konsultramesh.com

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