There are many things Kochi is renowned for: anyone who does any research about the city will find out about the Chinese fishing nets, the rich cultural history, the backwaters and bridges and the tourist hotspots that are Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. But one of the things no amount of research prepares you for is the agonising hours one spends stuck at traffic signals during the course of regular working days.
Cars stretch out endlessly and being stuck so far back in the queue of trundling metal that it takes multiple rotations of the lights to get through a single signal is not uncommon. Between the incessant yet unproductive honking and curses of frustration, the residents of the city who see this day in and day out have resigned themselves to their fates and developed new habits to pass the time while waiting for the lights to turn green.
Richy D. Alexander, a PR consultant, says that he uses the time to take care of official work on the go. “With the hectic way traffic flows when everything is moving, being stationary for some time at the signal is almost a relief. And since I usually have certain tasks to complete that can be accomplished over the phone, I use the time to make phone calls and send e-mails.” Having recently bought a new car, he says he would still prefer to use his hands-free kit and get work done than spend the time just listening to music.
While Richy works his way through his tasks, others use the time to catch up on personal needs, like grooming, and in some instances, breakfast. Shreya Ann Mathew, who works for an advertising firm in the city, uses the time spent in the backseat of autorickshaws to this effect. “I sometimes grab a few bites to eat, especially breakfast. And freshen up a bit if needed. Otherwise I make phone calls to pass the time,” she says.
Most working women who drive themselves follow more or less the same routine as Shreya when their vehicles are rendered stationary, though some take multitasking to the next level. “I tend to fix my makeup or check Facebook depending on how long the wait is. There have been occasions when I have been stuck for over twenty minutes and picked up a book or started eating dry fruits out of sheer boredom,” says Smita Madhav, a media professional. Her colleague Vama Bhatt on the other hand, uses the time to connect with her children outside Kerala and improve her Malayalam by listening to the radio. “I have made a pact with myself not to get irritated with the situation and include these slots into my daily timetable. When stuck for ten minutes at Vytilla, I use the time once a week to file my nails,” she says.
Though most of the stories speak of making the best of a bad situation, some people seem less affected by the slowing of time governed by three lights. IT professional Arjun Dilip, who uses a motorcycle to navigate the teeming streets, says that he rarely finds himself completely stuck, “I don’t usually get stranded badly, but when I do I contemplate my life in excruciating detail. That or I imagine myself as a new age samurai slicing through all the traffic,” he says in a lighter vein.
It has come to the point where the long waits and traffic snarls are as much a part of life in the city as the sight of sunsets over water and the drone of ferries on the waterfront. But credit where credit is due, the residents of the city have put up a brave front and found ways to deal with the tedium. So next time you head out, make sure to carry a hands-free kit, makeup bag, snacks and a healthy dose of imagination.
