Oct 08, 2009 01:08 PM
6762 Views
I started this discussion for all to share their experiences with Bangalore Bus Tour Operators. If any of you had similar experiences, do post the same. Any comments on this post are always welcome.
I am one of those many who work in Bangalore but are not native to Bangalore. There are not many trains to my native (Ernakulam) from Bangalore. The one which runs daily Kanyakumari express is always booked in advance. So I am forced to rely on private Bus operators for my trips to native place. To inform all you that these private bus operators are the main reason not many trains are allocated in the Bangalore – Kerala route. They pay bribe to prevent any new train allocation in the route so that they can charge heavily.
Private Bus operators who charge heavily more often provide poor service. Add to this arrogant behavior by staff, reckless driving which puts the passengers life in jeopardy.
I had experienced arrogant behavior by staff but here I am posting one of the worst experience I ever had with – Shama Travels. I had taken a ticket to travel from Ernakulam to Bangalore by Volvo Busthrough Ensign Agencies (ticketing agency), (near Bhima Jewellers, MG Road, Ernakulam. ). The travel operator assigned has been Shama Travels (the party mentioned). The Ticket charge paid was Rs 750. On the way to travel to Ernakulam, the Bus stopped around Salem on the highway.
We were mentioned that the Bus broke down and they cannot continue. It was around morning 5 am and all the passengers had get down on the highway. In the scotching cold. Early in the morning all passengers including me had to wait and tried to stop the incoming vehicles to get in. After 1 hour of effort I was able to get in one of the local bus with all of my luggage and had continue my journey (around 4 hours) till Bangalore standing in the local bus and had to go through the trouble of passengers get and in and out in the local bus.
I had to pay another amount around Rs.100 from Salem to Bangalore for the local Bus. After a lot of trouble of reaching the destination, I reached the Madiwala office of Shama Travels. I asked for a refund for the amount paid. The Madiwala office manager was not even waiting for me to hear what I need to say and abused me saying that this is not the first time a bus has broken down. Then later he only agreed me refund the amount incurred for the local bus.
How can a local bus be compared to Volvo bus? taking into account all the trouble I had been through I had to be paid a minimum of 50% refund. When asked for better refund, the manager along with an associate abused me and told me to get out of the office and mentioned he will not even give me a paisa as refund. There was another husband and wife who argued for the same and they were also told the same, the husband was told since a lady is along with him they are behaving this way if not they would have been worse!!!!. The manager along with an associate came out and threatened me why I was standing there and again shouted at me saying to get out of the office. I had to get out of the office immediately fearing physical consequences.Do share your comments / similar experiences.
