Oct 03, 2008 02:34 PM
4652 Views
I had booked a 0530 AM Bus to Pune from Raj National Express.
The rate was dirt cheap @ Rs.103 (half that of the market rate) and DNA newspaper free with it . But the experience has its own story to tell, so read on:-
A) Online Ticket Booking experience
The Website promptly displayed a bus service every half an hour start from 0530 to 0800 AM. I needed to report to work hence decided to go for the first bus (0530). While making the online payment, I decided to go for Direct Debit, but sadly the online tool could not connect to ICICI or Axis bank website. So I had to process the payment VIA credit card.
B) Departure experience.
I decided to call their contact numbers mentioned on the Website at 0445 to see if the bus is starting on schedule. I tried to call:- 02228956858, 02228907922, 09987000194, 1800229900 but all kept ringing away to glory without any response. So I reached the Borivli (W) starting point at 0525 AM. The Office Boy reported only at 0555. Only querying the watchman, the response given was that its routine process they follow when if they don’t have enough passengers they club the buses. I agree to this, but then when 6 passengers are waiting at 0530 AM the office should be functional. Else they should call me and intimate me about the delay. I wouldn’t have wasted my sleep and reportedly so early. Also I had booked 2D and 2E for my wife that seat was now allotted to someone else as my bus was cancelled. They even cancelled the 0600 AM Bus and eventually the 0630 AM bus was the one we made it in.
All this lead to me reaching Pune at 1130AM instead of 1000 AM and missing my weekly Meet.
