It's about time I learned to drive!

Joe (left) and Tim (right) with the Amphibious

It must be co-incidence that I meet Timothy every time Nano news is about to hound media... the first time I met him was over a year ago when the 'junta' car was unveiled and people were going insanely beserk to take a look at it. And I met him again last week for a story on his ATVs and modified bikes. Both times he was chilling in his taar-patra covered, garage- shed. Only difference being that his blood-sugar level has shot up drastically in the last one year.

The first time I met him was for this amphibious car that he'd built (along with his brother Joe)...because he was genuinely concerned of the terrible state of the city on July 26, 2005. The car runs on road and in water and has a whole lot of to-be-patented features that can make it an ideal rescue vehicle. It was ready on August 15, 2007. But it has still not been tested officially, let alone get used during a disaster.

Officials are not allowing it permission to be tested - either on road or, most importantly, in water. He's met all kinds of bureaucrats and politicians to try and get the right kind of permissions but nothing's working. Shubha Raul, the mayor of Mumbai, has allegedly said that BMC will get in touch with Tim as and when they require the services of his car/boat. After all floods don't occur every day! But if you don't even let him test it how will he keep the car ready to rescue Damsel Mayor when disaster strikes!!!

"Necessity was the mother of my invention, which still remains a dream because of rampant red-tapism." That's not something Tim said...he's written it down on a small piece of paper lying among the tools on his work-desk. It must be frustrating being him...having a life-saving car standing in your garage, while you watch helpless rescue-workers drown under toppled boats as the raging Kosi wiped out village after village in Bihar last year.

He's not giving up though...he's taking our advice on lowering the sugar levels, building a dune buggy that the Mumbai police could use to patrol our sea-fronts and he's promised me that I'll test drive his newest creation this June/July... ... ...thenga :D