IIT Bombay's Vikrams

Alt. title : Rust in peace

IIT Bombay used to have these electric three-wheelers that used to run all over the campus. You could halt them on the way by waving your hand and travel to any part of the campus for two rupees. A private contactor used to run these services. It was convenient to the inmates of IIT and since it was electric powered, it was non-polluting. All of a sudden about two years back, the service was suspended. People said that there was some problem with the RTO. Now I dont understand what the RTO has got to do in this. Besides, IIT is also in a way a state controlled place and not anybodys private domain. Anyway the service stopped. And it was back to talking the noisy polluting regular autos - the Bajaj three-wheelers.

Now two and a half years later, I spotted these at the Kurla S.T. Depot, Nehru Nagar, of all places. They were in terrible condition, compared to what they used to be. It was rather dissappointing to see them in such a state. After all they had served the IIT for a good cause and in a good way. This is however the outcome of narrow minded beauraucratic beahviour.

Let the Tum-Tums or Vikrams or whatever you may call them ... let them rest (if not rust) in peace. At Kurla (E) S.T. Depot.