Download songs, check FB, fill admission forms: The new Ganjing experience

The District Administration's plan to lure youngsters to Hazratganj through free Wi-Fi seems to be working. Since the facility was launched almost a fortnight ago, youngsters hooked to their smartphones is a common sight in the area.Even the scattered benches on the boulevard are often occupied by people busy on their laptops and tabs. We went around the market asking netizens how the Wi-Fi experience has been for them and what is it that they use the facility most for.
On a song
With the Wi-Fi being available free of cost, youngsters are making the most of it and using it to download songs. Mithoon Biswaas, a PMT aspirant who attends coaching classes in Hazratganj, tells us, “I've been using the free Wi-Fi in Ganj ever since it was introduced. My friends and I stay back after our classes 3-4 times a week and download songs. Earlier the speed was really good, perhaps because the users were lesser, but now it's become a little slow. Nevertheless, it solves our purpose.“
Jyotsana Joshi, a 20-something professional who has her workplace in the area, adds, “I stay back after office almost everyday . It takes an average of three minutes to download a song. Using the 3G network to download songs is very expensive; this is much more convenient. Even though the session expires after 20 minutes, you can log in again and start using it without paying anything.“
Arun Trivedi, who's in his late teens and also attends a PMT coaching in the area, makes the most of the free Wi-Fi. “I would never stay back in Hazratganj after my coaching. There was nothing to do here, but since the past two weeks, my friends and I have started staying back to download songs. I see many more youngsters doing the same thing,“ says Arun.
Checking-in at Hazratganj
Now with the area Wi-Fi enabled, we can safely say that social networking has also become a part of the overall Ganjing experience. Plenty of people we came across were busy scrolling through their FB news feeds or chatting on Whatsapp. Like Abdul Rahman Sheikh, a PMT aspirant who also lives in Hazratganj, tells us, “I spend a lot of time here after my classes. Since the weath er is decent in the evening, my friends and I sit around the area and use it mostly for Facebook and Whatsapp. However, the real experience is late at night around 10-11 pm.It's nice sitting here outside and since the number of users are also less, the Wi-Fi speed is also good.“
Sameer Khan, a JEE aspirant who lives in a PG on Nawal Kishore Road, spends a lot of time in Hazratganj now. “My phone has bad 3G connectivity , so I often come out to use the Wi-Fi. I stay here for an hour or so, along with my friends and use the Wi-Fi to check Facebook,“ says Sameer.
Outdoor studies
Students living in PGs and hostels around the area are also using the facility to keep themselves updated with admission news and work on college assignments. Raj Tewari, who's preparing for his bank PO exam, says, “I live in a rented room close by .I don't have internet facility at home and use a Wi-Fi dongle. Now, I come here to see online admission news and check which forms are available on the net, and then go home to fill them using my personal net connection.It saves me a lot of money . If the session wouldn't have expired after 20 minutes, I would have used it to fill forms as well. I hope they extend the session to one hour.“
Sapna Verma, who's doing a course in Architecture from a private university while doing a part-time job in Hazratganj, tells us, “I'm studying architecture, and have to download designs; some of these files are really heavy . Since my office doesn't have WiFi, I often come out here and do it.“
Late night most popular
Even the police constables on duty in the area are bitten by the Wi-Fi bug. “Even though we have Wi-Fi facility in our booth here, we mostly spend our time outside patrolling the area, so I remain connected to the Ganj Wi-Fi. Ever since the facility has started, we have seen so many youngsters spending their evenings here. They all start coming in post 7 pm. and usually stay till 1011 pm at night, lazing around on the benches and using the Wi-Fi. On weekends, they stay till even later,“ says Ashish Trivedi, a constable on duty in Hazratganj.