Is Traveling in City Vans (Omni or Magic or Maximo) in Indore completely safe?

So, a lot of young students like me travel via public transport from time to time. (Or at least we used to, Before Corona lockdown)

The general cheap public transport modes available in Indore are:-

1. iBUS (BRTS)
2. CityBUS
3. City Vans
4. Share Autos

Now, many-a-times, on some routes only one of the above options is available. Alternatively, one of the above options is more frequent on any route. So we tend to ‘save time' and hop on to whatever medium we spot first.

Story

Now I shall explain the contents of the headline of this story via another story.

So I had to travel from Bengali Square (Madhavrao Scindia Statue) to IT-Park Square (Asaram Bapu) few years ago.

Now I had two options

1 . Take Route No. 5 CityBus (which was the only bus on that route)

2. Take a City Van/Magic on the same route.

I was in a bit of a hurry and I hopped onto the magic, since I didn’t wish to wait for the bus. Since the wait-time would have been nothing short of 5-15 minutes.

It was a lazy sunday afternoon. The Magic was filled with people (approx 7-8). Now, those who have travelled on this route, know that one square prior to IT Park is Teen Imli Square. Before the Magic reached Teen Imli the magic guy started collecting money from everyone.

This is strange.

Since, it is a culture in the city vans circles that the passenger shall pay only when they de-board i.e at the end of the journey. Since it is easier for them to keep a count of the transactions.

But, I obliged and gave him the money. Then at Teen Imli Square the whole magic became empty. Everyone went, except me, since I had to get down at the next stop, IT Park.

Out of nowhere, the driver started abusing me, and asked me to get down. I asked why ? But, he didn’t listen, so I got down and told him to transfer me to some other magic.

He didn’t.

I asked to give me 5₹ so that I can travel from Teen Imli to IT Park. (Since I had paid full charges upto IT Park)

He didn’t. He kept abusing me right in the middle of Teen Imli square, all kinds of Hindi abuses which are despicable even considering that he was in his 40s/50s

Regardless, he pumped the accelerator and went away.

I was in total shock.

I hopped on to the next city bus I could spot, even though many magic/vans requested me to board them.

I still travel via magic/vans, but I make it a point to wait, if there is a bus available on the route.

I have nothing personal against magic/van drivers, just because they belong to the so-called lower rung of the economic structure of the society. I believe in equality.

But, I feel that they should get their act straight and behave properly, before I recommend anyone to give first preference to Vans/Magics while travelling in the city. Especially to ladies who feel really uncomfortable in those jam packed vans.

Bottomline

Wait for the bus. If not, try to sit in a packed van. Especially if all of you are young. There’s a chance they might heckle you for more money or even abuse you.

Not all vans are like this. But as they say ‘one fish dirties the whole pond’.

They dont seem to care about this image :/

& there are some routes, where only vans/magics run, especially since buses are not very frequent after Corona lockdown.

Please maintain caution and ask for the amount before entering the van.

Thats all for now :)

Have a safe journey.