Incredible !ndia -

a befitting title

Going back after such a long time, I was astounded by the entire tapestry of India, the world’s largest democracy and a country hosting 1/6th of humanity.
The streets bustling with life and colour were not new to me, as is the fast track and amiable attitude of everyone, ranging from the courteous greetings of the elegantly attired hotel concierge to the CEO of a premier industrial firm - All a product of a rich culture that puts a premium on civility.
Though it was my first time to visit the capital New Delhi, I did know India in my teens while being educated in one of its highly reputed universities located in Pune, Maharashtra state.
Invited by the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa to attend the first ever India-Africa Forum Summit, I arrived full of anticipation in New Delhi, after passing through the former Bombay, known as Mumbai since 1995, following the change to the native pronunciation.
The Indira Gandhi Delhi International Airport, undergoing a partial renovation, was teeming busy with African leaders and delegations coming for the summit. Businessmen, entrepreneurs, students and tourists, not to mention locals, stream into the airport as one international flight after another lands. The immigration officer looks you over vigilantly, politely asks the purpose of your visit, and equally important, checks your yellow fever vaccination certificate.
New Delhi is the second most widely used entry point into the country, being on the routes of most major international airlines. Even an experienced traveler will be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle outside the airport, where you need to make your pick, whether it is a hotel taxi or someone holding your name and awaiting you.
Nothing had prepared me, I must admit, to the lively reception outside the terminal, where you are met with a hundred pair of hands, branding names and events, and pressing you in a frenzy of calls and entreaties. Finding my hosts amid such a commotion, with a kind soul who insists on taking up my trolley, was quite a welcome experience.
An impressive network of destinations both domestic and international is entertained in the capital. Recently opening its skies to private operators, India today offers a choice of private airlines. In addition to Indian Airlines, Air India, Jet Airways, Sahara and Archana Airways are the forerunners, according to an Indian tourist information guide. After arriving on Ethiopian airlines, I had the pleasure of flying locally on Jet Airways and Kingfisher - one of the world’s fastest growing carriers.
Owned by Vijay Mallya of United Beverages Group, Kingfisher is a private airline based in Bangalore, India that started operations in 2005. Voted recently as India’s favorite airline, it was the first carrier in India to boast an all new Airbus fleet. In a deal valued at over $3 billion, Kingfisher has ordered five A380s, five A350-800S and five A330-200S. The owner is one of India’s growing pool of multimillionaires.
Driving to the hotel in a deluxe car, courtesy of The Oberoi, one of the finest hotel chains in the country, what first struck me was the noise, as though the accelerator pedal thrusting the vehicle forward were directly linked to the horn. For a while, you would think there is an emergency, and when you sense it is the same all the way, you wonder how the people tolerate it. However, wait until you stay a couple of days, and you will not even notice the din.
Everybody seems to be going somewhere. Though for an outsider it looks chaotic, the people walk with purposeful strides. The activity by the way is more than meets the eye, as I was reminded visiting the recent conjunction of a 21st century high-tech underground corridor that braved through congested old Delhi. The Delhi Metro is actually an astounding technological milestone, not only for India but also for the world.
Also known as the ‘Time Machine’, one of the Delhi Metro’s lines covering a distance of 11 kms is built under 400 year-old buildings near Chawri Bazar station, according to the Delhi Metro PR who conducted the tour for our African Editors delegation.
Launched in October 1998 to put Delhi on the fast track of progress, this state of the art Metro is today half way to completion. The first stretch of 42 km was inaugurated in 2002. The plan is not only to connect it with neighboring cities but also to lay a network that would allow Delhi citizens to access the Metro from within 5 minutes of home or work, ensuring that it is well integrated with other means of transportation, both ground based and air.
Phase I, a $2.3 bln project gives service for over 6 lakh passengers per day at what looks like the world’s lowest fees of Rps 22 ($0.54) for a maximum possible distance. Phase II is targeted to be completed for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Delhi, and is expected to cost $4.25 bln. Major funding agency is the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), by way of a soft loan.
The metro is a good example of the country’s technological and economic advancement, and hence made part of the familiarization tour organized for our group of 14 African Editors, along with other briefings and visits to historical monuments in the country.
Whisked along by the sleek car of the Oberoi, one of Delhi’s luxury hotel committed to providing you with the highest quality of service, I could not help but notice the fine touches ranging from a personal butler to the business center – a norm of any international luxury hotel, but with special meaning at this hotel with a quest for excellence. It was a fitting start to an exciting and fruitful visit to a fascinating country which truly deserves its name of Incredible India.