Soujit Ghatak in Honda Amaze injured by truck tyre burst near Nivedita Setu

Soujit Ghatak was about to enter Kolkata via the Nivedita Setu over Hooghly River on Monday, 2019-11-25 morning while driving his Honda Amaze. He was alone in the car.
While driving past a 10 wheel truck, the tyre of one of the rear outer wheels of the heavy vehicle burst.
Ghatak had his seat belt fastened and windows rolled up.
Nevertheless he sustained serious skin and bone injuries to the extent that he had to be taken to hospital. The exterior and interiors of the door, window glass and windshield were badly damaged.

There's nothing that Ghatak could have done to avoid this scary and traumatizing but freak mishap.

P.S: There's usually a solid iron ring which holds the tyres of large commercial vehicles in place on the rims. During tyres bursts, the ring normally tends to fly off like missiles in any direction.
Very unnerving, isn't it?
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* Mishap And Calamity

Kolkata to Deogarh via NH49 (old, NH6) road trip by Sandip Hunday in November 2019

Indian Roadie regular Sandip Hunday drove from Kolkata to Deogarh (near Sambalpur) (Kolkata_Deogarh), a distance of 486 kms in his Honda WRV on Friday, 2019-11-22.
He crossed Vivekananda Setu toll plaza at 8.30am and reached Deogarh (Odisha) at 7.30pm.

Route :
He drove on NH 49. Kolkata - Kolaghat - Kharagpur - Jamshola - Baharagora - Bangriposhi - Jashipur - Keonjhar - Pallahara - Barkote - Deogarh.

Road condition:
Road was excellent from Kolkata to Baharagora.

It was just ok from Baharagora to Keonjhar.

However, the NH was in very bad condition for the rest of it from Keonjhar to Deogarh. It was total offroading experience.

There was one portion  of around 50 kms between Keonjhar and Pallahara which was absolutely a terror. Only  trucks were plying with extreme difficulty.

Here, thanks to Google and with confirmation from some localities found a new route of 45 kms. It was an excellent and scenic ghat drive, via a small place called Telkoi.

He took the same route back to Kolkata on Sunday, 2019-11-24.
He left Deogarh at 9am and was there at the Vivekananda Setu toll plaza at 7.30pm.

During return journey, lunch break was at Pantha Niwas, Keonjhar. Thereafter, stopped for a short while for tea at Kolaghat.

Total distance for the round trip was 987 kms.

P.S:
* Sandip is of the opinion that in another 18 months the whole strech from Kharagpur to Deogarh will be fully 4 laned because construction work was in full swing in November 2019.

* A bypass is being constructed to skip the narrow road passing through Deogarh.

* Road widening work is presently on right up to Sambalpur (Orissa).

Indian Roadie 'paratha' meet with Abhijit Sarkar on 2019-11-28

Indian Roadie 'Paratha' meet inside Abhijit Sarkar 's Ford Ecosport parked near Beliaghata police station in Kolkata at 7.30pm on Thursday, 2019-11-28.

Parathas procured from Madan's Paratha Centre suggested by Tanmoy Das  from as far as Hyderabad 😄

The mini GTG was rounded off by driving a short distance to Sweet 'N Sour, IA Block, Salt Lake for sweet, frothy and steaming espresso coffee served in baked clay disposable glasses.

No stickers, no caps, no t-shirts, no specially made chaddis needed for these impromptu meets.
No bashing each other up physically.
No obscene dancing by anyone.
These are very simple, pure and wholesome entertainment sessions only.
There's no showing off by anyone to announce to the world that 'I have arrived'.
Any misdemeanor by anyone, irrespective of age or social standings or beliefs is dealt with accordingly 😊

Mannequins decked up as policemen expected to deter traffic violators in Bangalore wef November 2019

Read more at:
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/to-deter-traffic-violations-city-traffic-police-deploys-traffic-police-mannequins-on-trial-basis/articleshow/72213539.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Delhi to Mussoorie road trip by Gaurav Tomar in November 2019

Trip update - Delhi to Mussoorie

23/11/2019 - Delhi to Doon approx 260 kms done in 3 hrs 45 mins. Started early morning at 5:40 and reached Doon by 9:20.
Spent sometime at Robber's Cave then moved to Mussoorie, checked in then visited Clouds End in the evening followed by shopping and Dinner at Mall Road.

Route taken:
Delhi - Raj Nagar ext. - Muradnagar - Upper Ganga Canal road - Khatauli - Muzaffarnagar Bypass - Deoband - Gagalheri - Doon.
Fantastic roads with toll of 130 rupees (No FasTag as it's SH59).

24/11/2019 - Checked out from hotel by 10:00 for breakfast at Mall Road then moved towards Lal Tibba.
Started return journey around 13:00, reached back home by 21:00.

Same route taken for return except Ganga Canal from Khatauli, google diverted us to Ganga canal road at some point due to traffic ahead.
Toll paid 130 rupees + 85.00 rupees (via FasTag on NH).

Total trip was 618 kms over the weekend.

* Accomodation in Mussoorie - The Kenilworth Hotel, good hotel at Mall Road with Parking.
* Aggarwal Vegetarian restaurant, highly recommended place for very tasty veg food.
* Entry to Mall Road is 150 rupees (it was required to reach hotel) every time. This was an expensive affair if staying on Mall Road.
* Cars cannot ply on Mall Road between 16:00 and 22:00.
* Parking at Lal Tibba was for 100 rupees.
* Clouds End resort (so called scenic point) entry is for 150 rupees, not worth at all as you get better views a little before this resort. 

Exchanging or selling old car is not like selling or exchanging old newspaper

Have you ever handed over (tantamounting to sale) your old car or bike to a new car/ bike dealer for exchange and bought a new ride?

Were you paid the value of the old car/ bike in cheque/ draft or was the amount deducted from the invoice value of the new vehicle as exchange bonus or value?

Have you preserved copies of those cheques/ drafts, bank statements, Form 29 and 30, delivery note, a copy of the money receipt with all details, copies of proof of address, proof of identity, PAN card, etc, etc?

Does the invoice of the new car bought by you mention the discount you got for exchanging your old car with mention of registration number + engine number + chasis number of the earlier vehicle?

If your answer to the question in the proceeding paragraph is NO, you are possibly staring at a lot of heartburns!
If yes, then you have a 'somewhat' logical & favorable case in your hand.

What if after 3 or 5 or 8 or even 12 years you realize that your old vehicle is still running around in some unknown location in India and the #vahan records say that the vehicle is still in your name?

According to a Supreme Court ruling, you will be fully responsible for all acts and omissions.

Don't even contemplate filing a false FIR that your old vehicle was stolen. You will be as good as a dead duck then.
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# Indian Roadie Safety Tips

Spend Rs.20 to pee at Lavato, Krishnagiri

Jain Varghese stopped at LAVATO Krishnagiri (Karnataka) on 2019-11-24.
Lavato is a professionally managed toilet complex.
The new upwardly revised rate in November 2019 is Rs. 20 flat per person which Varghese felt is justified by the services and facility. He wishes to see more and more across Indian highways and cities.

(www.lavato.in) 

Delhi to Mumbai road trip by Gaurav Tomar in September 2019

Gaurav Tomar of Faridabad did Delhi to Bombay on 14/09/2019 via Jaipur - Chittorgarh - Mandsaur - Ratlam - Dhule - Nasik - Navi Mumbai.

Roads are good except some long patches after Ratlam until Dhule, rains started at Chittorgarh and continued till Bombay, FasTag does not work in MP (on this route at least) as told by multiple toll wala guys.

They took around 23 hours to cover 1485 kms in a single stretch. 1285 kms driven by Gaurav and 200 kms by his friend. 

Car flips over Biodiversity Flyover in Gachibowli, Hyderabad on 2019-11-23

A horrifying accident took place on Hyderabad's newly-opened Biodiversity Flyover in Gachibowli on Saturday, 2019-11-23 after a man lost control on his VW Polo GTI car and fell off the bridge. CCTVs captured the sequence of events on the flyover and below it. The driver of the car is safe. However, a lady pedestrian standing with her daughter was killed and six others were injured.

The flyover has been temporarily closed down after the accident.

Skip to 35 seconds to watch the car speeding on the flyover and flipping over after the sharp curve.

This is the second major accident to take place on the flyover since it was inaugurated on November 4, 2019 by Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao.

Earlier, two were killed while four suffered injuries when 28-year-old techie, P Abhilash, was driving his car at a high speed.

When cops subjected him with a breathalyser test, Abhilash's blood alcohol content was 223 mg/100ml, which is seven times higher than the permissible limit.
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* Mishap And Calamity

Spaceship, the tea shop in Langza village in HP serves 'seabuckthorn' tea to customers

Local food and cuisine of Spiti Valley can be found at this little food junction in Langza (the fossil village). One of the local tea which visitors should try is seabuckthorn tea. This is a local plant whose leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits are used to make medicine.

It is also helpful in breathing issues caused due to high altitude.

Must try this tea here and also have the amazing spiti sandwich 🥪

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* Indian Roadie Preferred Cafe in Langza, Himachal Pradesh

Goa - must visit beaches, must eat dishes, must eat restaurants, budget stay hostels

Must visit Beaches: 
Sinquerim Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach, Baga Beach

Vagator Beach, Anjuna Beach

Mandrem Beach, Ashwem Beach, Morjim Beach

Arambol Beach (plus 15-30 mins walk to serene Paliem Sweet Water lake).

Must visit Forts and Churches:
Chapora Fort
Sinquerim Fort
Reis Magos Fort
Aguada Fort
Candolim Chapel
Basilica of Bom Jesus


Must visit Night Markets: 
Saturday Night Market Arpora
Night Market Baga
Anjuna Flea Market
Tibetan Market, Baga Road


Must eat dishes: 
Goan Dishes,
Fish Thali,
Ros Omelette,
Chicken Cafreal,
Prawns Balchao,
Vindaloo in Pork or Chicken,
Crab at Baga Beach,
Kalamari Fish at Candolim Beach,
Bebinca (dessert).


Indian Roadie Preferred Cafe (must eat restaurants): 
Cafe Mangii,
Cafe Mambo,
Blue Planet Cafe,
Food Planet,
Sublime, Morjim Beach;
Baba Ah Rum,
Antares,
Curlies,
Cafe Bhosle, Panjim (Goan breakfast).


Hostels (budget stay options): 
Pappi Chulo
The Nest by Hostelogy
The Bucket List Goa
Red Door Hostel
JUNGLE by thehostelcrowd
Happy Panda Hostel Arambol
Woke Morjim
The Funky Monkey Hostel

Road trip to Dhanushkodi from Rameshwaram

Dhanushkodi, the once flourishing trade centre, 18 kms from the holy town of Rameshwaram in Tamilnadu was declared a ghost town after the entire town was flattened, rail link snapped and thousands killed by a dreaded cyclonic storm which made a landfall on the intervening nights of December 22 and 23, 1964. 

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the missing link of 9.5 kms long stretch of NH49 (new, NH87) from Mukuntharayar Chathiram to Arichamunai. 

Pilgrims and tourists flocked the strip as part of their pilgrimage to the Rameswaram island. They never minded taking the rough ride in the sandy and marshy terrain in four-wheeled SUVs and vans.

As more and more pilgrims started visiting the land strip, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways came forward to lay the road after obtaining the ‘Gabion boxes’ technology from IIT-Madras to protect the road from high tidal impact.

Overcoming many hurdles, the National Highways began the work in 2014 and completed the 9.5 kms long road – 5 km from Mukuntharayar Chathiram to Dhanushkodi and 4.5 km from Dhanushkodi to Arichamunai, the eastern tip in October 2016  at a total cost of ₹ 70 crore.

Even after completing all works and laying rotary at the end in Arichamunai for vehicles to turn around, the road remained closed for traffic as high tides dislodged the gabion boxes in November 2016. Later, the NHAI built a 1.5 km long sea wall at Arichamunai point and a 500 metre long sea wall at Dhanushkodi point and made the stretch ready to be opened for traffic. 

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* Dhanushkodi 

* Must Visit 

* BeachDrive 

* Indian Roadie Beach Drive