Bangalore is growing so vast and so fast, it is devouring all that comes in its way. Just to mention a thing among many is magnificent Hudson circle, once giving a majestic look. It has turned out be a traffic island. However, there are still some relics from the past that evoke nostalgia.
One such thing is Railway crossings, which are on the verge of extinct in this traffic-manic city. One day, I was traveling with my three year old daughter in a bus. As we just passed through a railway crossing on the way, my daughter shot her usual inquisitive question “how rail and other vehicles cross over without accident?” Because she had seen the Train always moving either above or below the road, i.e., the overbridge or the underbridge. I started explaining about the gate to stop the traffic, which didn’t convince her. She kept on pestering with “how is it possible?” as she could not visualise that.
Then I promised her to take to one such crossing on reaching Bangalore. Even I was vaguely remembering where these railway crossings are? So, I could not fulfill my promise even after few weeks passed after the incident. Meanwhile, I enrolled for an evening course being conducted at Hutchins road. Ergo! There is a railway crossing near ITC factory on the way. I was very happy and decided then and there to bring my daughter to that place.
So the following Sunday evening we were there. It was quarter past six. I showed my daughter how the tracks were laid over the road and the gate on either side of the tracks. Then I approached the person manning the gate. I was eager to know when the train is likely to pass that way. The person told me to wait for 5 minutes. We waited there watching the traffic. The telephone started ringing. The person talked something, and headed towards the lever for signaling. Then he started closing the gate. The bell was ringing cautioning the people to stop. The traffic, which was flowing smoothly, appeared to become restive. There was maddening rush to get past the gate before it closed. Even after the closure of gate many people driving two-wheeler were bending their vehicles and crossing over, as if they were going for a war. It was looking like a circus.
Here I could spot two kinds of people. The first ones, who are regular users of the road. These people were performing the trapeze art of bending their vehicles almost touching the ground, with great ease. The second kind is first timers. These people first hesitate, look nervously both side of the track, and then watch the first kind of people maneuvering easily. Then they also decide to cross over. Now there is a sense of urgency as they have wasted some precious moments. They start to negotiate the bar, wriggle this way and that way. Some of them get hit also. A person broke his rear view mirror in the process.
Suddenly there was a loud whistle of engine. Now the entire process seemed to be happening in a fast forward mode. Total chaos! Other vehicles also now started moving nearer to the gate. There were pedestrians also jostling in the melee. Whistle of the engine became shrill and the train was visible now. Everything came to grinding halt. There was only the sound “dhag, dhag, dhag dhag” with creaking of wheels. The sound started fading away. The gate slowly started going up. Everybody wanted to get out of the jam they have created. For 10 minutes there was a long line of vehicles on both sides of the railway track. After that the calmness of Sunday returned to place.
My daughter was very pleased to witness all this and also got convinced about the train and bus crossing each others path!
______________________________________________________________________________________
