How well do you know your friendly neighbourhood conductor?

Most of us go through life not ‘really’ knowing the people who play an immensely important role in our day-to-day lives. I’m trying to pen down details of all those people who I see every day and in my small way trying to say thank you by noting down their ‘real-life’ script forever.

My name is Raju B. and I am a BEST conductor. I started working with the BEST on March 16, 2009.

From childhood, I always wanted to have a government job. In other jobs, they can remove you anytime, so your future is not secure. In a government job, you get a pension plan, even if you’re not well educated. I am a 12th graduate.

Right now, other than the BEST job, I work in collections with a bank, which I have been doing since the eighth grade. I have learned how to talk, listen and interact with people through this job.

My dad was in the army. On the line of fire, he hurt his hand and chose to retire. He joined the BEST as a driver and climbed the ladder from there. He first became a Starter, then a TC collector and another promotion saw him becoming an Officer in the Clearing Department. In the beginning, I wanted to join the army too but my dad said ‘no’ as the army life was tough.

I did a one-year mechanical course from a technical school. I worked at Ashok Leyland for six-months but I never left my collection job. Right now, even though I work with the BEST during the day, I still do my collection job in the evening. Even if I fall sick, I will take a day off from the BEST but not from my collection work.

To get into the BEST, I had to visit the RTO where I was required to fill up a CID enquiry form, which takes about six months to process. Then I got my No Objection Letter (NOC), my license and my conductor badge.

The BEST was hiring so there was a huge rush for the batches which were soon to begin. I went to Dindoshi Depot, which was closest to my house. The training centre is next to Dinsoshi Depot where the housing quarters are. There were more than 150 of us. They took about 75 of us and checked our papers inside. You have to be a tenth standard pass and have to know Marathi, which is compulsory. There is no reservation quota. A person from any caste can join as long as he has the badge and speaks and understands Marathi.

So I got my training number. Your license badge is your identity proof. I got a book of all the rules and regulations which have to be followed. It gives information on how to punch the tickets, how to use the bell in the bus. One is to stop, two is to go and three is if there is an ambulance, or if someone urgently has to get off.

So, you start of being a conductor, then a driver, then a starter, then a ticket collector, then the depot officer and so on. Your pay scale is based on the position you hold.
There are different seating arrangements for the handicapped, old people and ladies. If a man sits on a ladies seat and doesn’t get up when requested, the conductor will ring the bell three times and the driver will take the bus straight to the police station. Since the person has delayed the bus, he will pay a fine for the BEST losing money, have a case filed against him and pay a penalty for breaking the rules.

Shifts are on a rotational basis and may be different every week. Take the 347 route for example. I could have nine rounds in a day. Four rounds in the morning then I get a break for an hour-and-half and then take another five rounds. We have a timetable where we write down the bus no., the route no., what time we start our route, which round was it, the bus driver and his no., which driver drove the bus to the depot… If I get delayed anywhere because of traffic etc, and it eats up my break by default, I will get a half hour break. If I have a longer route, I will get longer breaks.

Whatever my calling time is to start work I have to come in 15 minutes early to collect my tickets and get all my change sorted. The permanent staff gets Rs 100 from the government as change. Until we become permanent, part-timer’s use Rs 200 from their salary as the change and at the end of the day, they take their Rs 200 back. The rest that we earn we give it to the BEST. To avoid any problems, we can take more than Rs 200 change again based on the route we are going in. A good conductor will know how much change is needed and come prepared.

If the conductor loses money, he puts in money from his own pocket. If ever he is called to have his bag checked it is the biggest insult for any conductor. He has to give a written account of how much money he made and correspond that with the tickets he has sold. If he did not have change to give you, he will write behind the ticket how much he owes, his name, badge no., date with his signature and you can get your money back from Wadala depot.

A driver or a conductor does not get a free ride, only when he is coming or going to work. When he is travelling in the bus, he cannot wear the uniform at all. The family gets no benefits of a cheaper bus pass. You can avail of the BEST quarters only after you become permanent and the rent for staying there is cut from your salary.

Our work has become lighter with people getting bus passes and having bus cards. Each of us is supposed to have a machine to check people’s card. Sometimes when we do not have one and I ask, “Do you have a pass?” and you say yes, even though the pass has expired, if the TC catches you that will not be his fault.

How do you understand a bus ticket: For example, if you have a Rs 25 ticket, it will have the month, date and year written on it in Marathi. The year will be written as 9,0,1. Since we are in 2011 we punch 1. On the right side is month and on the left side are the days of the month. The magic pass/ticket which work on Sundays and holidays, works anywhere in Mumbai on any BEST bus minus the AC bus.

A child ticket is minus one of a half ticket. For e.g. If an adult is Rs 8, a child would be half that is Rs 4 minus Re 1 which is Rs 3. Luggage will cost the amount that you spend on your ticket. A 3x6 luggage will cost that much as they do not look at weight. A child is charged above 3 yrs. A blind person gets a ticket for Re 1 but he has to get a pass from the BEST to avail of it.

On a regular day you can travel throughout Mumbai with a pink colour Rs 25 ticket. On a trial basis, the BEST has started using machines which electronically give out the tickets. However, there are some issues with the machines which conductors face, like paper jams etc.

My last thought is when you enter the bus, bring change. Buses also travel on time. Buses come at regular intervals. So, do not jump into a crowded bus but wait for another one.