I booked a journey on 9-May-2014 from Bangalore to Hyderabad. Pickup point was Marathahalli at 8:40pm. I reached about half an hour before the time, but the bus came about 45 minutes late. So I had to wait for more than 1 hour. That too it was a pickup bus, which was not mentioned before at the time of booking (it is generally mentioned for the pickup point of other operators).
After going through all parts of the city, we were finally taken to the National Travel Office. More than 100 passengers were waiting for different destinations. It was 10:25 by this time. Worst part begins here.
We were told that bus will come at 11pm. That too on being asked.
No courtesy to announce this to everyone. Again when someone asked that why is it getting so late, a very rude mannered answer came that there is some problem with Hyderabad bus. At about 11:10 suddenly a minibus comes and everyone is told to board the same. It was suppose to take us all to the bus which was waiting somewhere else.
Few people were left behind standing on the road because not everyone could fit in. The National Travels guys were least bothered even if there were kids and ladies standing on the middle of the road. One of the man became a little angry seeing all this. One among the National Travel guys, who looked to be the owner, started abusing him and told him to don’t go by their bus.(He even called him a ’hijra’).
I stepped in and told him its not about the bus getting late, its about the totally indifferent behaviour. National Travels please learn to behave properly with your customers. If there is a problem, learn to take responsibility and be there to serve your customers. I am pretty sure not even a single person from that day will travel again with you.
Finally the minibus came back again and took us to the main bus. It was 12 am by this time for a 8:40 bus. Pathetic. Again there was some kind of Kerosene Oil smell coming in the Bus. Many of the passengers reported about it. Accidents in AC buses are a little common these days and everyone was worried. But of course nothing could be done. Everyone sat there in the hope that they will reach Hyderabad alive.
Oh and the blankets were stinky too.