Sriharsh Malladi

Browsing the world of politics, entertainment, science and random thoughts on anything under the warm sun!

[Sadhavi Khosla @sadhavi]

We call India the land of Dharma. But Dharma means righteousness. Are we righteous? Fake paneer, stale food even in 5 star restaurants, corruption everywhere, cheating, abuse, hatred, crimes, inequality. We talk a lot about protecting Dharma.

But are we living it? Introspect!

[Sadhavi Khosla @sadhavi]

Before we talk about protecting Dharma, how about start living it? If you’re living something, no one will be able to destroy it or snatch it from you. Recent Ram Mandir theft should tell us that Dharma resides in people not temples. If people are following Adharma, they will spoil the sanity of Dharmic centres/ Temples also.

[Mangalam Maloo @blitzkreigm]

Let me just say it - Air Travel is becoming a mess.

What was once a joyful experience is now becoming a dread.

Unfortunately consumers have no say in it. We're at the behest of a crazily one sided ecosystem.

For a 9 am flight, one's day roughly starts at 5 am and by the time they reach any destination it's past noon at least. Not to mention the crazy mafia of cabbies or the ordeal to get out of the airport post landing.

This 8 hour ordeal is filled with a long journey to the airport, navigating through multiple ID checks, multiple bag screenings, security checks and no real assistance from the staff who only look at everyone as if they're doing them a favour.

This, is assuming the flight is on time and all goes well.

Now God Forbid, If your flight is delayed, your problems have begun to compound. You are now going to get sucked into the quicksand of an apathetic ecosystem.

No clear communication by the staff, no empathy or aid to passengers who may either be old, unwell, travelling for a happy family occasion, a bereavement or even an all important work commitment.

Why is this lopsided?
- If you get to the airport even marginally after their long cut-off time, you aren't allowed to fly. But they can continue to delay flights without any intimation.

- If your bag is even marginally heavier, they won't let it in without charging you. But, if you're carrying just a handbag on a full flight they'll bully you into checking that in, because "no space"

- If you carry a bottle of a beverage, it’s considered a security threat. If they sell the same bottle at 5X the price, it’s convenience.

- They can keep you on a stationery plane without air conditioning, food or even the freedom to use a lavatory. But the minute you show any frustration, they may take strict security action against you and perhaps even make you ineligible for flying.

- You're at the mercy of an airline where gate changes, flight changes, aerobridge and bus changes are frequent and random. But if you miss any of these announcements it's your fault because we told you its a Silent Airport.

- You have to book tickets and pay in full immediately, that’s fair. But they will return the money only in 7 working days after deducting crazy cancellation charges of your initial amount. In a lot of cases, any refund is given through discount vouchers and subject to terms and conditions.

The worst part however is, no one knows a way out of this! Demand-Supply-Cost-Infra-Rules-Regulations-Safety-Security are all important and must be adhered to. Everyone's equally helpless.

The only solution – Airlines - please, please, please – train your staff to be more empathetic, helpful and respectful to passengers and ensure the processes are all customer focused and not just cost focused. What's a process, can't be changed. But what can, is the experience you provide.

Not sure if this will even make a difference to anyone, but that’s all one can do as a customer without much choice, right? Make a suggestion or voice a rant.

An airline isn’t just about stuffing people in a metal tube and transporting them. It’s about connecting people to their loved ones. Parents meeting children in different cities, a couple celebrating a milestone occasion, a family having worked very hard to save up for this trip. It’s a celebration of one of mankind’s greatest inventions.

@airindia @airvistara @AkasaAir @IndiGo6E @flyspicejet @DGCAIndia @consaff @LiveFromALounge @TheSanjivKapoor

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

Your targets are single passengers and aged women who can’t really protest. Abusing the monopolistic position! You never know when you’ll be grounded with this kind of behaviour.

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@IndiGo6E one of the worst customer services harassing ppl and dismal front desks ever. Someone with excess luggage 3 hrs prior to the flight will be taken without a problem but even 1 kg excess will be harassed in an epic manner.

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@AhmedabadPolice @AmdavadAMC pls clarify if this is a parking sign or no parking sign?

This place is opposite Jodhpur Char Rasta. Can this be considered as No Parking?
Traffic police said that it’s a problem of municipal corporation….

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@sanjeevsanyal @psc_twt Sir reading your book and absorbing the fascinating way in which you weave so many facts.

The Incredible History of India's Geography [Paperback] Sanjeev Sanyal and Sowmya Rajendran [Paperback] Sanjeev Sanyal and Sowmya Rajendran https://t.co/smNOJNQGOY

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@sheshapatangi1 Thank you the thread. I also read this in a book:

Venkatesa Suprabhatam: The Story of India’s Most Popular Prayer https://t.co/uCAvQWpCYa

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@malladidj It’s more an ecosystem of lies and deceit..more an agenda. Of course some are plain incompetent also

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@PuravParekh @Microsoft @Office @MicrosoftTeams @msteamstips ohh!

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

Prioritise process improvement against people and personalities!
And for all those who are making Mr. Vaishnaw a demi-god since he has been at the accident site...its good leadership yes, but also his bounden duty. Pls do not claim as though it was some sort of a great thing!

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

Btw - For all those calling for @RailMinIndia resignation, there was another Rail Min - Mr. Suresh Prabhu who did resign when quite unfortunately there were just too many train accidents! You cannot have ppl resigning each time. How many times will CMs/PM resign then?

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

If someone must resign, it should be the safety commissioner or the official directly responsible for operations - someone who could influence the investigation.
Rail Min's resignation has no significance.

[मङ्गलम् @veejaysai]

Basically people who resigned and escaped to save themselves rather than stay and help sort out the problem!?

Resigning is not a solution! If you constantly want everyone to resign, who will work?!

Think logically! Not emotionally!

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

Why all this now: #TrainAccidentInOdisha might be a time to look at trains, safety and service to people in general...@RailMinIndia @RailwaySeva

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

I love trains. Can't ans if you ask why
A lot of attention has gone to services, but improve train internal designs pls.
Services meaning: sms/tweet for cleaning, booking system, station aesthetics etc.
1. The toilets suck! whatever the train

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

5. the cushion in sleeper class is close to non-existent many a time
6. no crowd control on stations - look at how people jostle to get into express / long distance trains, leave alone trains such as mumbai locals.

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

@rah_khk @EconomicTimes That is not the point. Pls read the article. Government decisions or indecisions has nothing to do with retail consumer demand or buying pattern buy and large. Large corp execs must think what statements they are giving.

[Sriharsh Malladi @Sriharshm]

When was the last time India had a political instability?
Some of these statements from some global execs are anodyne at best and dumb at worst and seek to bracket all so-called emerging economies together! #Levis @EconomicTimes

https://t.co/W18vkjTiIp