Indian Railways Playing it Green - Virtual Reservation Message

This is an absolute convenience. Now, travel with the Indian railway with just a soft copy (Virtual Reservation Message [VRM]) of the railway e-ticket. This move by the railways could have a considerable positive implication on the passenger and the environment.

Virtual Reservation Message (VRM) - A screen-shot of the e-ticket displayed through laptops/palmtops/ Mobile phone. VRM combined with valid photo-id in original will be treated as an instrument on par with the Electronic Reservation Slip (ERS). ERS/VRM along with proofs of identity in original will also authorize the passenger to enter the platform on the day of journey and he/she will not be required to purchase platform ticket.
Forget about clamoring to take a print out or worse still not including the print out as part of the entourage. Now the convenience is simple as storing the snapshot on your mobile or even someone sending it to you, in case it’s forgotten. Oh well, what if the display device is forgotten, obviously if you don’t have a print out of the ticket or the display device then will have to pay the fine for the travel.
From an environmental standpoint with the VRM we can save about 3 lakh A4 papers daily, which amounts to saving of 25.5 full grown trees, 40 m3 of water 6150 kilowatt-hour of electricity on a daily basis (estimates only).

• One tonne of paper is equal to 200, 000 sheets of A4 paper.
• 1 A4 page of 80gsm; 1m2 = 16 x A4 sheets. 1 A4 sheet = 80g/16 = 5grams.
• 1 tonne/5 A4 sheets = 200,000 A4 sheets
• 17 trees are used to make one tonne of paper. Recyling 1 ton (0.91 t) of paper saves 17 mature trees, 26 m3 of water, 2 barrels of oil and 4,100 kilowatt-hours (15 GJ) of electricity

Railways has always shown leadership through the use of latest and prevalent technology. They launched the computerized reservations system and saved huge quantum of time by removing the need to travel to a booking center and to waste valuable time by stand in ques.

This latest move adds a further shade of green to its operations.
It does leave me with an afterthought are they focusing on the right stuff such as operating efficiency of engines and rakes, transmission and use of electricity. I am sure there is huge opportunity for the railways to play deeper green.

Bikes, Helmets and Mumbai

You dont choose the bike, the bike chooses you says the ad. Commuting in Mumbai? Hmm.... bikes are indispensible for some, it saves time and money. Bike rides are exhilarating especially if they are on the highway. Many die to do it or die doing it.

See a cop on the way or at a signal, put on your helmets, was it strapped on? Let me think. Not really, how else would you save time taking it off when you are away from the cops. Is the cop who is being cheated. With bike ride death follows the rider at the tip of the fancy exhaust. A little miscalculation and the laws of physics and gravity take over.

In an accident an unstrapped helmet would fall off, and roll away saving itself. The rider hits the road and injures himself, if he hits harder his brains spill out on to the road. Is it worth it, save a helmet and loose your brains. Never in this infinite world, finite you think, yes life is finite. I had seen an accident, a young college goer met with an accident. No helmet, he hit his head on the road, his brain spilled out and the crows were ready for the meal. God knows how his mother pampered him, but after the accident the scavengers were ready.

Next time you wear a Helmet 'STRAP IT ON'. Don't spill your brains on the road. Live to speak.