Traveling in HRTC luxury buses a non-luxury experience

16

By: Surekha

The tag line on the website of HRTC loudly spells out – HRTC: safe service & courteous service. I had always vied for traveling by HRTC buses having full faith in the government undertaking, but a recent experience of traveling from Shimla to Delhi by the so-called luxury bus run by HRTC makes me ponder over kinks in the service.

On 12th April, 2010, I was supposed to travel from Shimla to Delhi via the AC deluxe bus that leaves at 10:30 in the morning and an advanced booking for the same was done the previous day. I reached around quarter to ten at the Shimla main bus stand (thanks to the growing traffic snarls in Shimla, which is in a way a blessing in disguise as it makes people move to their destinations earlier than the stipulated time, thus instilling the habit of punctuality) to board the bus for Delhi.

It has been around 10.20 am and the bus is not visible and this sends my brains ticking, and I approach enquiry counter number 9, where the clerk asks me to proceed to counter number 3. At this counter the dealing person simply says the bus will not be plying to Delhi as it had broken down somewhere. He further asked me to give my ticket to him and avail the refund. At the moment I just went blank as had to proceed to Delhi on the very same day. Now, what do I do?

I just asked him:

* Why was there no prior announcement made for the passengers to let them know that the bus will not be plying to Delhi.
* Why was there no alternative arrangement in the form of another bus? (as a back-up) to which the person at the counter simply replies there is a luxury bus at 11.15 am for Delhi.

Two ladies who were first timers to Shimla were also supposed to board the same bus and had been waiting for the same bus since 9.30 in the morning. They came to know that the bus was not plying to Delhi only when I told them. We had no option but to proceed to Delhi by the 11.15 Volvo.

It sets one wondering that in cases where one cannot postpone travel plans, HRTC should make alternative arrangements and have their back-ups ready in form of other buses or at least inform the passengers about the actual position so that they can make their own arrangements.

The condition of the so-called luxury buses on the other hand would require another section to highlight the situation. Consumers prefer to travel by these buses for the comfort which they are supposed to offer – the loops to dispense water bottles are falling off, curtains too are falling off, a TV monitor is stacked in front, but hardly ever it has been turned on.

These issues certainly spell out a discourteous imagery.

Previous articleHimachal Day gift: Free dentures for all senior citizens
Next articleSatya Sai Baba reaches Shimla

No posts to display

16 COMMENTS

  1. I am in full agreement with the story that has been published. I am shocked to hear this as I who belong to Himachal has always been on the forferont of advocating the image of Himachal everywhere.

  2. I am in full agreement with the story that has been published. I am shocked to hear this as I who belong to Himachal has always been on the forferont of advocating the image of Himachal everywhere.

  3. The service is getting from bad to worse. I am the one who has a record of 12 tyre punctures out of 15 journeys so far in non stop bus service from Shimla to Dharamshala.

  4. The service is getting from bad to worse. I am the one who has a record of 12 tyre punctures out of 15 journeys so far in non stop bus service from Shimla to Dharamshala.

  5. very pathetic indeed ! the department needs to be overhauled . who is the current officer-in-charge?

  6. very pathetic indeed ! the department needs to be overhauled . who is the current officer-in-charge?

  7. God help those who help themselves— forget about HRTC (Hey Ram Teri Kripa par bus Chalege)
    just pray for another 50 years to come to change this system, may be there will be some little change.
    Mahender Singh jee WAKE UP FROM SLEEP.

    sorry for you gentlemen …….

  8. God help those who help themselves— forget about HRTC (Hey Ram Teri Kripa par bus Chalege)

    just pray for another 50 years to come to change this system, may be there will be some little change.

    Mahender Singh jee WAKE UP FROM SLEEP.

    sorry for you gentlemen …….

  9. I also agree with the above story.I belong to Dharamsala & working at Chandigarh.I visits my native place every week & often travel by HRTC Nahan depot Dehradun Dharamsala route which suites with my timings and also back from home by this bus.Its a bad experience while travelling in this bus.Just starting from Chandigarh at 6:30 PM. They will have dinner at about 7:30PM at Dashmesh Dhaba at Ghanoli.After that they will stop at Kiratpur for the change of Driver.At this stop there are too many mosquitoes which can bite you.So one must be ready for mosquitoe bite at this stop.After that the new driver will stop at Dhaliara at 11:30 PM for his dinner.While coming back it starts from Dharamsala at 9PM.Now they will have Dinner at 11:30 PM.Again same when it halts at Kiratpur for the change of Driver at 2:30 AM be ready for mosquitoe bites.

  10. I also agree with the above story.I belong to Dharamsala & working at Chandigarh.I visits my native place every week & often travel by HRTC Nahan depot Dehradun Dharamsala route which suites with my timings and also back from home by this bus.Its a bad experience while travelling in this bus.Just starting from Chandigarh at 6:30 PM. They will have dinner at about 7:30PM at Dashmesh Dhaba at Ghanoli.After that they will stop at Kiratpur for the change of Driver.At this stop there are too many mosquitoes which can bite you.So one must be ready for mosquitoe bite at this stop.After that the new driver will stop at Dhaliara at 11:30 PM for his dinner.While coming back it starts from Dharamsala at 9PM.Now they will have Dinner at 11:30 PM.Again same when it halts at Kiratpur for the change of Driver at 2:30 AM be ready for mosquitoe bites.

  11. Lately I have been traveling in HRTC buses regularly on the Shimla – Delhi route. Condition of ordinary buses is quite pathetic. Be it the Shimla or Solan depot buses which ply mostly on these routes, the buses it seems have outlived their lives. Particularly the Solan depot buses are now in a bad shape. The window panes noise is a big irritant as they keep making noise through out the journey. The quality of the body of Himachal buses is far far inferior from the one of the Haryana roadways buses.

    Also the dinner halt at Sanwara is pathetic. There are three different dhabas where HRTC buses stop here and all are worse with no hygine and worst food conditions. I would like to invite the HRTC higher ups and the minister to at least travel long distance on these buses once and get a feel of the inconvenience being faced by the passengers.

    While coming from Delhi, the VOLVO stops at Karnal. The food here is overpriced. They have a buffet system and each buffet costs around 150..!!! Why there is such a mismatch of services, I fail to understand. If you travel "cattle class" then you are served crap food and if you travel by VOLVO then again the dent on the pocket is huge!

    Haryana roadways ordinary buses stop at the Haryana Tourism complex Parakeet at Pipli. If only ever the HRTC top brass visit this place, it would be an eye opener for them seeing the facility for the "cattle class" passengers here. Haryana VOLVOs stop at the Haryana Tourism complex Oasis at Karnal and here again the food is priced conveniently.

    Why can't HRTC buses use Haryana Tourism facilities on this stretch (just like Haryana roadways buses) and why is it so difficult to develop such infrastructure within the state?? Transport Minister Mahinder Singh and his HRTC top brass can watch anytime the line of passengers peeing on NH 22 in front of the Sanwara dhabas..

  12. Lately I have been traveling in HRTC buses regularly on the Shimla – Delhi route. Condition of ordinary buses is quite pathetic. Be it the Shimla or Solan depot buses which ply mostly on these routes, the buses it seems have outlived their lives. Particularly the Solan depot buses are now in a bad shape. The window panes noise is a big irritant as they keep making noise through out the journey. The quality of the body of Himachal buses is far far inferior from the one of the Haryana roadways buses.

    Also the dinner halt at Sanwara is pathetic. There are three different dhabas where HRTC buses stop here and all are worse with no hygine and worst food conditions. I would like to invite the HRTC higher ups and the minister to at least travel long distance on these buses once and get a feel of the inconvenience being faced by the passengers.

    While coming from Delhi, the VOLVO stops at Karnal. The food here is overpriced. They have a buffet system and each buffet costs around 150..!!! Why there is such a mismatch of services, I fail to understand. If you travel "cattle class" then you are served crap food and if you travel by VOLVO then again the dent on the pocket is huge!

    Haryana roadways ordinary buses stop at the Haryana Tourism complex Parakeet at Pipli. If only ever the HRTC top brass visit this place, it would be an eye opener for them seeing the facility for the "cattle class" passengers here. Haryana VOLVOs stop at the Haryana Tourism complex Oasis at Karnal and here again the food is priced conveniently.

    Why can't HRTC buses use Haryana Tourism facilities on this stretch (just like Haryana roadways buses) and why is it so difficult to develop such infrastructure within the state?? Transport Minister Mahinder Singh and his HRTC top brass can watch anytime the line of passengers peeing on NH 22 in front of the Sanwara dhabas..

  13. Around 8-9 yrs back when HRTC had the Deluxe bus service for Delhi, the bus used to halt at Oasis and Parakeet during day and night services, and certainly do agree with nityin about the quality and prices of food at these places compared to the New-world at Karnal, where the buses halt now. Moreover at times the volvos halt at Shivalik cafe in Parwanoo, where the food quality i wud say is satisfactory, as the food is quite simple ghar ka khana type, however the toilet facility has degraded over the years at this cafe as no hygiene and cleanliness is maintained for the utilities.
    the same can be said for the hygiene and cleanliness at sanwara as has been already highlighted by nityin.
    but the question is how do we rope in all the HRTC guys to take some action at the condition of buses and the so called luxury bus services?

    • It is not that the HRTC authorities are not aware of such issues. I have a strong intuition that these stop overs are auctioned (read bribes are taken) One reason why the authorities turn a blind eye towards all complaints at such places. If HRTC were to be use Haryana Tourism complexes that would mean the cash cow would be left dry. How can one explain why the shantis turned dhabas at Sanwara can be designated as stop overs?

      Any answers Mr. Minister??

  14. Around 8-9 yrs back when HRTC had the Deluxe bus service for Delhi, the bus used to halt at Oasis and Parakeet during day and night services, and certainly do agree with nityin about the quality and prices of food at these places compared to the New-world at Karnal, where the buses halt now. Moreover at times the volvos halt at Shivalik cafe in Parwanoo, where the food quality i wud say is satisfactory, as the food is quite simple ghar ka khana type, however the toilet facility has degraded over the years at this cafe as no hygiene and cleanliness is maintained for the utilities.

    the same can be said for the hygiene and cleanliness at sanwara as has been already highlighted by nityin.

    but the question is how do we rope in all the HRTC guys to take some action at the condition of buses and the so called luxury bus services?

    • It is not that the HRTC authorities are not aware of such issues. I have a strong intuition that these stop overs are auctioned (read bribes are taken) One reason why the authorities turn a blind eye towards all complaints at such places. If HRTC were to be use Haryana Tourism complexes that would mean the cash cow would be left dry. How can one explain why the shantis turned dhabas at Sanwara can be designated as stop overs?

      Any answers Mr. Minister??

Comments are closed.