HimVani
Manali: Tourists travelling to Delhi from Manali, yesterday, had to face problems because of a non-functional air-conditioner of a Himachal Tourism Corporation owned Sleeper bus (RJ14PA0607), according to a report in Hindi daily, Dainik Jagran.
Tourists, according to the report, asked the driver to stop the bus, only after a few kilometres moving out of Manali town. Refusing to travel in the bus, the tourists demanded a refund of their fare, and only agreed to travel further after the intervention of the Tourism corporation officials and reduction of the fair. The officials, refunded Rs 400 for the sleeper-ticket of Rs 1,100 and Rs 200 for the seat-ticket of Rs 400 on the spot.
Besides being rickety, the windows of the bus too were jammed and could not be opened up.
The report quoting an official from the tourism department corporation that efforts had been made to rectify the problem in the air-conditioner, however, due to non-availability of a mechanic in Manali, the problem could not be rectified.
Poorly maintained buses and paisa-vasool mindset…is there a substitute for this situation ?
The problem with HPTDC buses is that these buses have been outsourced from outside agency and like any other true govt organisation no one cares for the upkeep and maintainence of these buses. To say that there is no mechanic at Manali is laughable. With these buses going full everyday and charges being so high the contractor could have been asked to keep a mechanic in Manali.
This really a shameful incedent. at one such instance my friends booked ticket for volvo AC bus, and at the tim of departure they were given seats in TATA ac bus (operated by same rajasthan contractor) saying that it has same facilities as in a Volvo AC bus. hving no other option they accepted the seats under protest. the next part of journy was nothing less then a nightmare. the bus was smelly and seats very uncomfortable. water was dripping from AC duct. the tire of the bus burst twice during the whole journey. after ambala the bus was running on 5 tires only. it took 20 hrs for a 12 hr journey.
knowing that it would fal on deaf years my friends chose not to lode a complain, but thay did decide not to come back to himachal again…..
Repeated incidents will discourage tourism. The person responsible should be brought to book.. authorities and the new govt ought to take consigance of the matter urgently.
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