Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Birthday marketing strategy.....


Marketing and publicity is what everyone does to make their product a perfect sale; and so the Appu Ghar authorities have done. As their land lease is on an end Delhi’s first amusement park is about to shift somewhere outside Delhi.

Towards its departure Appu Ghar authorities are still trying to gain some popularity and drag public towards its new place by offering birthday tickets at just Rs.100/- with a combo offer of rides +oysters.

But does Appu Ghar still have that charm and grace that can catch children’s and youngsters fancy? I really don’t think so.

Appu Ghar is now among the oldies and really have grown old where all the rides being old with half of the rides on repair and rest in a condition to stop. And moreover the real craze at Appu Ghar today is its Oysters. Everyone is crazy about water and water games. But is that attraction still the same?

There was a time during childhood when we all were crazy to go to Appu Ghar; as that was the only place everyone liked to be. Being a kid everyone among us wanted to enjoy as many rides at the very own Appu Ghar with an elephant as its publicity logo.

Few people are still attracted towards Oysters but the only problem here is everything has turned old with rust on iron pillars or fountains and scratched paint from walls. With its lease getting over everything at Appu Ghar is going away. And today with this effort and loads of competition in market Appu Ghar authorities are trying to attract people by low prices along the trade fair lines going simultaneously.

People are still crazy about water slides and water games which we get at Oysters but is that water really clean?

But what is appreciable is its security. All the life guards were on their duties with a constant watch on people and a regular security visit.

But on the other context where places like Adventure Island opened in Rohini and a new theme park in Noida and Fun and food village in Gurgaon will Appu Ghar be able to survive with this marketing strategy of low priced ticket for 15 days? Or it is just an effort to get visitors for a short span of time and gain some revenue?

Competition today is at a very high pace and Appu Ghar requires a real makeover at this point to gain back its original place. Although it can get instant or timely publicity that too just because of the International Trade Fair running near by. But for me Appu Ghar can really not cope up without a real makeover in its platform and addition of some fun loving new slides which attracts the visitors well.

Let’s hope children’s own Appu Ghar can survive well throughout, what you say?

Monday, November 19, 2007

KILLER BUSES.............IS IT RIGHT?

Yes it is going on and going on very rapidly……… BLUE LINE BUSES ACCIDENTS

I know the accidents caused by the blue line buses are still going on but has anyone reached to the root cause?

What is the root cause of these accidents? Are the buses the criminals involved in this?

Yes, to an extend if we look into the matter these buses are involved in accidents but just for the use (as an object) to cause accidents not done by buses ultimately these accidents are caused by the mishandling of drivers or the conductors who encourage the drivers to over speed after drinking.

Yes, that’s true what these buses can do without anyone directing or handling them. And the handler of the buses that is the drivers. Out of the 100% accidents by the blue line buses 80% are after drinking and purposely and 20% we can say are by mistake. Government really needs to take necessary steps to improve the current situation.

Few days back government has announced that Blue line buses will be off the Delhi’s roads by 2010 and will be replaced by new high capacity buses. But is it the ultimate solution then again what is going to happen is that these buses will get a makeover and then presented in a new form in front of the government and public. But is this the ultimate solution to keep a check on Delhi’s public transport system.

Let me recall with an incident that happened just two days ago. By mistake, (coz now days I don’t prefer to travel in buses) I boarded a white line bus, which is also a private bus service. The bus was not loaded too much, not was moving very fast everything was fine what was wrong there were the illiterate drivers and conductors. The illiterate conductor trying to enjoy encourages the driver to over speed and override on a bike moving ahead.

If this happens then how can we say that buses are responsible? Most of the cases happen when the drivers are heavily drunk and get excited after the conductor encourages them. In this situation the driver was a little worried with all the situations happening these days he said I don’t want to get into jail so leave it we will be calm. But on many other cases does this happen?

Are the illiterate drivers that much sensible or not?

If really they are not then; why are the bus conductors and drivers appointed on the norms laid down by the government? Why are they so illiterate? Why there is no check and they are driving a public transport after drinking too?

What require an improvisation are few facts that are important for a bus conductor or a driver I think then almost maximum accidents will not be caused by these killer buses.

Is it really right to keep off with the buses when the mistake is done by the drivers or conductors? Or ultimately there are many people playing with public life the one’s who have appointed these bus drivers and conductors without being educated to understand the importance of public life.

What is the ultimate solution to this problem?

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Way towards my sweet home....

When one waits for something why the wait keeps on increasing?

This happened with me when I wanted to go home well before Diwali on time and be with my family for a long time (which I crave for now). But it was a real long wait when one day before Diwali my journey was due (Just because of loads of work at office).

My trip to home this Diwali. The Journey began from Hakikat Nagar, Camp and Delhi where I got down the stairs to leave for station and 6 dogs covered me all around and started barking. Poor child was alone caught in-between 6 barking dogs that were not ready to let me move a single step ahead, for a minute I holded my breath and thought forget about the train and home and Diwali and save your life first or in other words I imagined a bad time for myself. To be clear I thought these dogs are not going to leave me today.

Suddenly my savior or let's say my lifeline (colony guard) came and some how tackled these dogs and directed them towards himself which gave me a way to move and move ahead towards station.

And then a usual fight with the Rikshawala to drop me at metro station in nominal charge, as he wanted a Diwali hike in charges from me. And me as usual short tempered left and started walking in anger and the security guard at the colony guard scolded the Rikshawala and asked him to drop me taking just Rs.5/- extra charges that was still bearable. And then the security checking at metro station opened my luggage completely and ruined my clothes and baggage which irritated me a lot.

But the journey moved ahead.....

And then a wait for the poor first Metro at 6 o'clock in morning which landed on the platform at 6:20 and left the platform at around 6:30 which made me more worried that whether I will be able to catch up with my train on time in this crowded time and with loads of luggage.

But luckily everything was fine and I reached the railway platform well before time at around 7:10 when my train was supposed to leave the station at 7:20. I thought now everything is fine and I will reach home on time. But my Luck still demanded a wait to reach home this Diwali.

We all know the well driven condition of our Indian Railways but my experience was really great this time. We all are aware of Shatabadi train and its importance in it in our Indian railways. But there are always some unexpected things that happen on your side; after all life is completely unexpected.

My Journey towards my home in Jalandhar this time was a real enjoyment this time. Something unusual happened this time. Shatabadi train was run by a goods train engine one among the slow engines and the journey to be completed in 4 hours completed as usual in 7 hours. Great Na!

Not only this many more things happened throughout the way. The train departed from New Delhi station on a very happy note and stood outside the station with a note that there is no signal and somehow dragged till Samaypur Badli station for a long halt were the Shatabadi engine was changed with a goods train engine and the tiring journey began when our dear train stopped at a every small station like a local passenger train.

And not only this moving ahead there were more tensions or lets say more adventure left when after reaching karnal the ticket checker arrived and asked for the tickets and a family with some old people was sitting behind created a scene. Actually the family was suppose to board another train (shane-e-punjab) and they boarded Shatabadi coz they also wanted to reach on time but there bad luck the ticket checker wasn’t corrupted like others or he was not in a mood to take the little amount that he was offered. And he asked them to get down at the next station.

And then the real drama begins in the train, best of all Indians- a fight. And then all the connections came out with numerous phone calls to people. After an hour or so the continuous arguments got over and everyone was relieved with a sigh that saying, ‘Thank God’. The real hangover was gone and then after all we found, we reached Ambala and the train stopped outside the station again.

I was really tired of these stoppages and fights and so I thought of sleeping after the train left Ambala luckily the train caught up with a Good speed but it again took a break at Gauraya apart from its usual stoppage which made me feel irritated when I was just a few minutes away from my destination. And then many people who were in groups started shouting to ask for the Ticket checker as they wanted to know what time the same Shatabadi would return back from Amritsar the same day.

Uffff Stupid people can’t they be calm and ask this at enquiry counter after exiting from the train but no they will sort all they queries shouting at other’s head. But with a big sigh of relief I reached the station Jalandhar at around 2:40 pm and was feeling good, happy to be relieved of this agony people’s Jail. Although I am also a part of those people I like to be calm a lot of time especially when I am traveling alone.

A sigh off relief and I reached home at around 3:00 pm and the tiring journey ended.

People say traveling in Shatabadi is really not tiring it gets over eating and enjoying but for me this time t was a real tiring journey with a good hangover and headache.

But still a new experience ……………