The New New-Delhi

The New New-Delhi

In the good old days (70s through 80s) I could do Delhi to Jodhpur (640 plus miles) in about twelve hours in my old Standard Herald car (Triumph in UK) that too via longer route through Alwar, where one would halt for breakfast and then Jaipur for lunch. The roads were narrow, traffic heavy and the car… less said the better. But it was great fun.

With a modern luxury car, which effortlessly cruises at 120 plus on wide express ways, by-passes, flyovers and what have you; I could reach the outskirts of Delhi ( Gurgaon) all the way from Jodhpur, in less than nine hours. But it was no fun; guys were overtaking from left, right and centre, keeping me frighteningly close to death and tensed up throughout, with not a minute to spare for the greenery that was rushing past. Thereafter, it was a new New-Delhi, totally devoid of its old world charm. It was a bumper to bumper ride all the way. For an outsider like me, it was a Herculean task to remain on course. You took one wrong turn and you were put off by several miles… setting you back by at least half an hour or more each time. I took three wrong turns and cursed my creators for having allowed me to travel by car, which received its due share of dents in the process. It took me five bloody hours from the outskirts of Gurgaon to make it to Ghaziabad, with tired limbs and shattered hopes.

Never again in my life will I travel to New-New-Delhi by car. I wonder how people live in such chaos; they do not know what they are missing in life. Way back in the eighties, I had invested in a hole in ‘old’ New-Delhi; Sheikh Sarai. Thank god I got rid of it. I love my fresh air…and my golf…which is just Par- three from my house!