Not for me reading the travel blogs of others to know more about a place or situation. Wherever it is possible to gain a first hand knowledge - because it involves money to travel and time to spend which again is valuable - I don't hesitate.
During the course of my interaction with Logistics Service Providers (LSPs), fleet owners and the senior officials of Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM) everyone kept on talking about poor infrastructure and the lack of professionalism among the fleet owners.
Above all, everyone expressed concern over the paucity of quality drivers. With traditional drivers hailing from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal getting richer after unlocking their land value opting out of driving profession, there is a huge supply demand mismatch.
Interaction with drivers per se confirmed the worst fears. How they were harassed at every place: police, toll road authorities, state border octroi officials and what not.
Plus, drivers and cleaners stay away from family for long stretches and live poorly en route because there are not adequate resting and refreshing facilities.
That's when it struck me to see for myself what ordails they undergo. When I broached the subject with Vipul Nanda of Mercurio Pallia Logistics (See Photo) who transports various finished vehicles from Gurgaon to Chennai with Maruti vehicles and return with Hyundai iin the reverse direction, he was appreciative of the initiative and offered a seat in his vehicles.
Maruti officials when I briefed them, said "go ahead".
See for yourself.
Originally I wanted to embark in the third week of September, but Vipul persuaded me to postpone by a few weeks so that the climate is better across the Guraon-Chennai stretch.
My Editor inChief Raj Misra was little worried about my health: since I am a diabetic and on strict diet regimen. Yes, it is a challenge.
But challenges are there to be surmounted.
Even my wife screamed at me for this footloose idea, but got persuaded.
I plan to lead a life like that of a driver and his cleaner.
Watching all stakeholders from close quarters.
