Monday Briefs

After Karnataka Elections there is a lull in political scene, it may hot up on after 15th may, when results will be announced of this poll. So my today’s blog is totally non political :

1. Cabs in Mumbai City- About 3 decades back there were almost  One lakh  Public Taxis in Mumbai, popularly known as Kaali Peelis. By the end of 90s they were down to about 63,ooo, and they are further down to about 19,000 on roads, there will be little more in numbers who are registered to ply. That too these taxis are generally found in Airport taxi stands, Main Line railway Station Taxi stands and in the city areas, as Auto Rickshaws are still not permitted in the city limits. The main reasons for their dwindling business was poorly maintained vehicles, shabby dresses of Cab drivers, autocratic behaviour of Taxi unions and even cab drivers. Till a decade back most of the taxis were of Premier make, the manufacturing of this car was stopped in late 80s/early 90s , but the Transport Ministry of the state allowed these Premier Taxis to be operated under the pressure of Taxi unions. I think presently they are charging about Rs 22 for first 1.5 KM, and additionally Rs 15 per KM. As all these cabs are operating on CNG and their operating cost is quite low as compared to Petrol/Diesel driven vehicles. But when the fares are calculated, they are calculated as if they are petrol driven vehicles. In the end this had to happen, and blame for this securely lie on the shoulders of Taxi unions and operators. Few years back in this scenario entered the App based  Cab operators like Ola and Uber, which were customer friendly as they inform you your fare in advance, pick you up from your door step and that too in Air Conditioned cars, with well dressed and generally well mannered operators and their fares were generally less than Kaali Peeli taxis. These type of App based cabs are known as aggregator cabs. Presently there are about 67,000 aggregator cabs in Mumbai metropolitan region. Now there is news that most of the Kaali Peeli Taxi operators are willing to switch over to App based cabs, this is happening because they are facing stiff competition from App based cabs, specially for long distance routes. the Taxi union has admitted that  there is decline in operators plying Kaali Peeli, there is severe shortage  of drivers and several Kaali Peeli taxis with valid permits are lying idle in the city, and no one is coming forwards for taking new permit for Kaali Peelis, which are openly offered by the govt. Now cab aggregators are wooing the Kaali Peeli Taxis operators in the city and are planning to offer even Kaali Peeli Taxis on their App platform. Further to give fresh lease of life to to Kaali Peelis, govt plans to come up with a new mobile app for them. Let us wait and watch what happens to Kaali Peeli taxis, presently the advantage is with the App based cabs.
2. Cricket Trivia- Friends you all must be watching One day International (ODI) matches, but have you ever wondered the aggregate of  runs scored in a ODI match. Below I am giving you the 5 highest match aggregates of ODI matches.                                                                                    No 5 – South Africa V/s Australia Durban 2016,  Aggregate  743 runs. Opting to bat first Australia made 371 for 6 in allotted 50 overs, with centuries from David Warner and Steve Smith. In reply SA got off with perfect start with de Kock scoring 70, and Hashim Amla 45, but it was David Miller, who scored 118 and SA scored 372 to win the match.     No 4- India v/s England  Cuttack ,   747 runs.   Batting first  India was in dire state at 25 for 3, however Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni rose up to the occasion  by putting 256 runs for 4th wicket and helped India post 381 for 6 in their 50 overs. In reply England got to good start with half centuries by  by Jason Roy and Joe Root , but visitor went on losing wicket at regular interval , despite wonderful century by  by captain Eoin Morgon, England lost the match by 15 runs.                                                       No 3- England v/s New Zealand,  at Oval 2105. 763 runs   Opting to bat first New Zealand with century from Ross Taylor and 93 from Kane Williamson, they score 398 for 5 in allotted 50 overs. In pursuit ofv the score, England stumbled all along, but Eoin Morgon kept them in contention for a win. However at 43.5 overs mark, rain arrived with England still needing 54 runs from 37 balls. On  resumption the target was revised to 24 off 7 balls, and despite their best efforts England fell short by 13 runs.                                                                                                        No 2- India v/s Sri Lanka, at  Rajkot 2009. 825 runs. India opting to bat first , With Sehwag scoring 146 runs, Tendulkar 69 runs and Dhoni 72 runs, India posted a big score of 414 for 7 in their 50 overs. Sri Lankan gave fitting reply, and always kept the required run rate within limits and gave India a real run for their money. with 11 run needed in final over, Ashish Nehra bowled excellent over and India clinched the victory by 3 runs.                                                                                No 1- South Africa v/s Australia, at Johannesburg 2006, 872 runs.  First it was Australia’s turn to bat, Ricky Ponting produced one of the best innings scoring 164 runs, in a team total of 434 for 4, it was  first time in the history of ODI matches that a team scored more than 400 runs, which at time looked as if Australia has already won the match.However what followed was sheer magic, with Greame Smith and Herschelle Gibbs tore into visitor’s attack and began to take control, Smith fell for 90 but Gibbs carried on, scoring 175 runs. Mark Boucher rallied with the tail and in the final over of the game smashed Brett Lee for a boundry and completed the greatest victory of all time.                  And till date it is the highest aggregate in ODI matches. You will observe from the above list that Australia and England lost both of  their matches, while India and South Africa won their both the matches.

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