http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Sun, 1 Feb 2009 18:20:41 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-351611 Oh, its great! 351611@desicritics.org Sun, 1 Feb 2009 18:20:41 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338675 Well, bikes are available from 30k onwards (second hand ones even cheaper), and when you use bike, you save heavily on fuel compared to a car. Even this needs to be accounted while calculating ROI. 338675@desicritics.org Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:07:41 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338674 Shrinidhi, I feel shifting houses is the best option. But considering the toll works out to only 34 bucks a day ie. around 12,500 a year, economic viability of buying/ renting a house should also be taken into account. Even if a bike costs around 60,000, you'll break even only after 4 years. So I still think paying the toll is a better option. 338674@desicritics.org Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:03:32 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338672 Temple, I don't think there will be any resistance to car pooling. The only issue is that it reduces flexibility after office hours. The passengers have to make alternate travel arrangements if the driver has any plans for the evening. Back in Mumbai the only time we car pooled was when we went out partying (thrice a week). It worked out pretty well. 338672@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:54:23 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338671 @ Chaitanya, No alternate routes available in this case... Toll gates are erected on all connecting roads as well, to ensure that no one escapes unpaid... Shifting to bikes will be more practical solution. No toll fee for bikes. Also if practical one can shift residence such that his home and office both lie either inside the toll road or outside it. You pay only to cross the toll gate-if your home and office both lies within 2 toll gates you can use it lifelong for free... 338671@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:49:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338670 @ Temple, Car pooling hasn't been tried on a noticeable scale in India, so not sure to what extent it will be successful. There may not be any resistance as such, but car pooling is only viable to those who have a fixed work hours and can leave exactly on the scheduled time... If at times one is required to stay back little late, his car pooling friends can't wait... 338670@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:45:38 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338664 Curious, would there be a horrible resistance to car-pooling in India? 338664@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Aug 2008 21:24:19 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/08/04/145258.php#comment-338650 "we all know how lane disciplined Indians are. one will have to go several kilometers before finding a U-turn. Many of us hate this and prefer to drive across the edge of the wrong side of the road instead". I think this is a bigger problem which has to be addressed. Especially on highway. As far as the places near the gates are concerned, a line has to be drawn somewhere. You can't keep pushing the threshold as it will continue to irk someone or the other. I feel car pooling would be a viable solution here. Or maybe you could just take an alternate route which may be longer but where no toll needs to be paid. 338650@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Aug 2008 11:05:48 EDT