The Hindu : New Delhi News : Can’t bank on them

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Monday, Mar 24, 2008
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New Delhi

Can’t bank on them

The customers of State Bank of India’s Darya Ganj branch were eagerly looking forward to better service when the branch shifted to a new building with a fine infrastructure. However, they were in for a shock to receive the same indifferent treatment from the staff. Not a single day passes without a quarrel between the bank staff and the customers. The worst part is that it takes at least an hour for one’s turn to conduct a single transaction. The other day I was given token No. 69 at 11 a.m. Considering the number of persons in the queue, I went out to finish some urgent work. I returned after an hour and a half and found No.79 being called in! The counter staff then suddenly announced that they would not make any outstation transactions, causing a lot of inconvenience to the customers waiting in the queue.No wonder two private banks operating nearby are attracting hordes of customers. What is the use of SBI opening 10,000 branches if the bank does not at the same time take the trouble to change the attitude of its lethargic, annoying staff?

Manager, Islamic Education Board of India,

4414/7 Ansari Raod, Darya Ganj, New Delhi – 110 002.

Dwarka calling

Thanks to collective efforts of Dwarka’s residents, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) started a new bus route, RL-77-Dwarka, connecting Dwarka Sub-City to New Delhi railway station. The bus used to pass through the newly constructed flyover on the Delhi-Rewari rail line. This was a boon for all Dwarkaites as there were no direct buses from Central Delhi to Dwarka previously. Though the metro railway connects New Delhi to Dwarka, the fare charged is almost double the bus fare and does not cater to various sections of society. Further the commuting time is the same.

However, DTC recently has changed the route of RL-77 via Palam Village and Palam Railway Crossing. The scene at this crossing is chaotic and many a time buses have to wait for 30 to 45 minutes for the gate to open. And once the gate is opened, there is a mad rush of vehicles leading to huge traffic jams.

This diversion of route has doubled the travel time also. If the diversion has been done for the benefit of Palam residents, then it is unnecessary. They already have a bus depot at the centre of Palam – that is, Mangalapuri, from where they can catch buses to all directions. One RL-77 Mangalapuri service also originates there. Moreover, a bus terminal also operates at Palam Village.

The DTC authorities, therefore, are requested to restore the previous route of RL-77 and also make efforts to open bus terminals at the earmarked sectors in Dwarka for the convenience of its many residents.

Johny Zacharias,

E-201, Kaveri Apartments, Sector 6, Plot No.4, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110 075.

For North-East’s sake

This is with reference to Aashish Goel’s letter “Assam calling” in these columns on March 3. I would like to thank him for making an attempt to address the plight of people from the North-East. As one who belongs to the region, I know how much it has been neglected by the Union Government, which has led to issues like militancy, gross human rights violations and under-development. Imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) just added to the grievances of the people. On the pretext of containing militancy, security forces operating in this region tend to violate human rights, thus instilling fear in the minds of common people. Fake killings, rapes and torture are on the rise, especially in Manipur, thanks to the draconian law.

The nightmarish incidence of genocide of minority Kukis by NSCN (IM) from 1992 to 1997 that claimed more than 900 innocent lives, the recent incidence of unlawful deportation of more than 400 Kukis across the Myanmar border, the gang-rape of 23 Kuki women in Churachandpur district and the planting of landmines in the Kuki-inhabited areas which has killed more than 30 civilians so far were all carried out by Manipur-based militant UNLF, and the authorities were unable to do anything to protect the innocent. To this day the Government has not initiated any programme to tackle the burning issues. It is high time the North-East was meted out better treatment.

Joel Mangboi Haokip,

Room No. 309, Satpura Hostel, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi – 110 016.

Hello, MTNL….

I had taken an MTNL mobile phone connection (No. 9868492701) for the reason that its connectivity is relatively reliable and tariffs quite reasonable. There is also no problem of pesky calls. However, over the past couple of months the quality of service has declined and reached its nadir now. One finds it impossible to connect during peak hours in the evening from 7 p.m. to 9-30 p.m. The problem of cross-connections is very jarring and the network has become very weak. So you get connected to some other unknown number in the middle of a call or cannot complete a conversation without voice breaks.

I request the MTNL authorities to look into these shortcomings at the earliest and ensure better service. Naseer Shafi Bhat,

125, Jhelum Hostel, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110 067.

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