########################################################################## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ##########################################################################
In response to my question of Dec 8 about the findings of the investigation into the crash of the Sky Bus on its test run two and a half months ago, there was an interview in Times of India (Mumbai), Dec 15, 2004, in which the MD of KRC (the inventor of Sky Bus) has put the blame on the inadvertent RE-greasing of the test track 10 days after it had been DE-greased. This led to the speeding of the Sky Bus at 50 (fifty) kph instead of maintaining the rate of 20 kph around the curve. This explanation seems to clear the technology (which is close to the MD's heart) but raises grave doubts about a) test procedures and b) sabotage by vested interests. Regarding the latter the MD himself admits in the interview that "one of the vital lessons for us is that technology with mass applications should be tested in more protected environs, preventing access to unauthorised persons. The test side has since been strictly barricaded". But more than physical barriers, there seems to have been a serious problem about the attitude or mind set of the testing staff right down the line. The "test ride" seems to have been more of a "joy ride" with pandals and crowds and a festive atmosphere. Why the seriousness of the re-greasing activity was not realised, monitored and rectified in time, is a real mystery. A full report of the investigation into the accident should be made public as promised by KRC at the earliest. Regarding Gabriel de Figueiredo's comment about the design, the TOI interview has this concluding line: "It not only saves space but also optimises their use by allowing for cyber cafes, marts, jogging tracks etc on the roof top and deliver containerised garbage to dumps automatically". Hope this reference will be of interest.