I would like to state a message before I explain about my experience with Road link bus service that I am not writing this letter because I am in anger or disappointment but to show the power of consumer rights applicable in India and its legal system to the service providers who harass the consumers or take them for granted. I booked two tickets from madiwala (bangalore) to chennai @ Road link bus services after seeing the 4 * reviews in their website on 4/06/2011 mentioned departure time is @ 11.15 pm.
As I arrived to their office bit earlier by 10.40pm with my ticket printout , they took that and replaced it with a boarding pass which was looking very professional. the bus also came on time and they stored my luggage installing tags with seat numbers etc( felt wow wat a star class service being the first time traveller in their service). then for some reasons bus was not departure d till 11.30pm from the same place. then after approx an hour the bus stopped after a toll plaza (near hosur) since they got a call from someone (since I was boarded in the front seat I was able to listen their conversation) . then the bus driver and helper informed few of us who also got down from the bus to see what was happening that since the bus has very less passengers they are replacing people. we were in the impression that they are gone add more passengers in the same bus since the total number of passengers were 18 1/2(a 6months baby accompanied with their parents). We were waiting for about half an hour still the vehicle didn’t move and when we asked the driver again he said we have been shifted to a different bus .We are shocked and asked whether we are assured of the same seats which is in the front(4, 3) but he said not possible we need to adjust and when we asked to provide the owners detail he said how can you contact a person owns service from south africa.I called up the number 42819000 and someone called MAHESH took the phone and said wait for sometime the replacement bus is coming there and when I asked him what is the reason behing shifting after boarding he says the clutch is not working properly (being a brand new volvo vehicle I don’t know whether to relay on the volvo if the case is true but I am pretty sure it is not the case) .
I questioned him how can a bus moves about 30 + kms when a clutch is jammed and wouldn’t they know to check everything before the bus starts , for it he replies how can I know whether the bus gets breakdown or not and you need to adjust and travel at these situation.i asked the same question which I asked to the driver whether I will be given the same seating for that he says not possible and I need to " adjust " and should not expect the same comfort again ( I dont know how he uses the word again , since I traveled for the first time in their service that to not more that 35 to 40 km) and when I asked him what is he in the company he says that he is the maintenance manager which I got to know is a lie after driver says he is GM of the company. He bangs the phone which I was questioning and never picked up the phone again. after few minutes there was a bus came which was very ordinary one hope the name was keshiwardhini (not remembered the name properly ) in which already the seats were full had 17 seats left , since we had luggages , we had to rush from road link to the other bus where the helper almost tore my travel case worth 7000 rupees (american tourist) pushing it inside the store rack harsh as possible.when we entered inside the bus they offer the seat 37 38 which is the last before row and the bus was jam packed , they adjusted somewhat all 18 1/2 in the places empty and the vehicle started finally. the seats crunched us almost since it was made with very poor make and the A/c was only a showoff which blown very less air throughout the travel , the driver was driving the vehicle as if he is riding an auto rickshaw never bothered of people sitting the back rows. it was pity to see the lady with a small child suffering with us too (included two foreigners - giving bad impression about our country and its service ) .it was suffocating to the core , legs have swallow en , got neck sprain , back pain and puked after getting down from the bus. the only relief in that journey was once we got down from the bus we got the fresh air..after getting down the bus the helper came very demandingly asked to pay 10 bucks for tea so that he can open the store rack to remove our luggages , only after I paid the money he released the luggages too..
I would like to understand only one thing from this experience , how the redbus.in able to keep support these unprofessional scam company road link in their website ( because we believed the read bus is a reputed company and believed the photos , reviews uploaded in their websites is true) . 2) because they have less passengers how can they shift people in a very ordinary bus which is not even value of its half a price. 3) how can road link travels have such a ridiculous General Manager who is such a greedy and unprofessional spammer. I request all passengers not to choose the service either from redbus and Rajeev_Vermacially from ROAD LINK TRAVELS which a real scam that they showoff a brand new bus virtually and put you in a pathetic service in reality. I would also gone file a case against them in the consumer court as well as publish in the press about the scam run by them to create awareness to the common public .