Man travels 130km daily for call of duty as lockdown halts trains

PUNE: For Dilip Holkar, commuting to Pune from Kedgaon, around 65km from the city, once meant chatting and sharing jokes with fellow passengers on train.
But the lockdown has put paid to such pleasant journeys. Now Holkar (36), a security guard, dreads every time he undertakes the journey on his two-wheeler.
Severe backaches and anxiety have become his constant companion and taken a toll on his health.
“It has been four months now that I have been travelling the distance six days a week on my motorcycle. I have visited doctors twice for my back pain and it has not helped,” he said.
Holkar said driving at a stretch for an hour and half or, sometimes, two hours on the highway has made him anxious. “My workplace is in Camp area. I need to leave home at least two-three hours before my shift begins. For example, if my shift ends at 11pm, I can only reach home by 1am or, sometimes, 2am. I don’t have any option since my salary doesn’t allow me to rent a room in Pune. I am trying to get one on a sharing basis,” he said.
“Driving on the highway, especially during the night, is risky and the rains have made things even worse. There have been occasions when I have had a narrow escape due to oil spillage on road stretches. I request the authorities to begin public transport without any delay,” he said.