Am not new to Kolkota, the original imperial capital chosen for managing India by the British. I had come here six years ago as part of tapping talent from eastern India for my Oman-based United Media Services. Times of India Resident Editor Robin Roy (now at Jaipur working for the same publication) was at the Dum Dum airport - what a name! - to receive and escort me during the two day visit. It was a memorable visit in terms of finding a gem of a person like Robin. About my friendship witih Robin, another time.
This time, around the visit has to be with the study of infrastructural and procedural challenges faced by Indian exporters in pushing stuff to Bangladesh through road. West Bengal's Petropole is the biggest entry point, accounting for 60% of all Indian stuff that crosses into our SAARC neighbour - legally that is. About illegal ways, maybe in another dispatch. With Research Fellow Absar Alam, thirtyish post graduate in economics from Bihar working for Asian Institute of Transport Development, funded by United Nations and accessed regularly by Planning Commission, we have landed in Kolkota for 3-4 weeks stay.
The previous study was done in 2005 and between then and now, there are several positive changes had taken place and both of us here to 'see', 'experience' and 'document'. While Alam has an excellent economics and mathematical grounding, my utility is perceived to be on my linkages with truckers, freight forwarders and several years of business/economic journalistic background. Added to this was the grand reception to my maiden book, 10,000 KM on Indian Highways particularly among the logistics and supply chain domain experts, ministry of road transport & highways and anyone and everyone linked to this sector.
After all, a vast country like INdia's domestic trade and commerce is handed by road transport to the tune of 70%, thanks to the poor marketing and red-tapism prevalent in Railways bureaucracy. Rail, according to pundits, is likely to lose further.
Contrary to Delhi's searing 43 degree Celsius burning heat, our arrival in Kolkota was greeted with constant drizzle and cloudly weather. It was a big relief.
Even before could find the guest house where Alam has got himself positioned 24 hours in advance in Salt Lake area (nice and quiet area), IBM Supply Chain Biggie Anindya Gupta (whom I had known only through emails and phone calls and who had become my constant source of information about east and north east thanks to he having read one of my Road Trip pieces on the web more than a year ago), was physically present to receive me along with Arup Chanda, an ex-colleague from BITV days and now publishing East India Logistix.
In fact, Anindo stood in the long queue to get a prepaid taxi while Arup stood on Sealdah platform when the sky had opened up heavily! What a welcome! Thanks, Anido & Arup!
After a lot of fighting and slanging match in Bengali and Hindi with the taxi desk, we managed to hop onto a yellow-topped Ambassador cab for Salt Lake restobar. Over food, we yak-yaked for almost 2 hours before Anindo looked at the watch to indicate that it is time for him to scoot to work!
Luckily, the guest house was hardly 5 minutes ride away in a cycle rickshaw.
The first meeting was with Samar Jha, the recently retired Member (Finance) of Railway Board. He is supposed to be our local guardian and mentor. Over hot tea and kachoris, he treated us at his Jadhavpur University Road flat, with its twin pets keeping a close vigil on us.
Poring our documents prepared by Alam, we discussed the action plan for the next few weeks and promised to meet soon after first round of calls and visit to Petropole, approx. 100 km away from Kolkota.
By night, the weather has become muggy and even with open windows of Amby cab, we are sweating profusely.
Quick dinner and a bit of planning for engagements for next day followed.
Before hitting bed, Alam gave a 18 page document for me to read and be prepared for a discussion with him next morning.
I decided to taste that after a good night's sleep.
(cont'd)
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