Hi
This is to complaint about the terrible way I and other passengers had been treated on out trip from Chennai to Tirupathi on 24th Feb 2011.
I had booked for and paid for a journey in a volvo .I was informed at the last moment that the volvo wasnt going due to Telangana issues which I later learnt was not the actual reason .They hardly had any passengers to take .I agreed to go on the tempo traveller ,but I found out that there was this old smelly rattly bus that I was put on .I was asked to report at 4.45 at morning but the office had 2 watch men sleeping whom I had to wake up and it was only at 5 am did 2 passengers appear .It took the bus which stopped at 2 different points to pick up some on the spot passengers 5 hours to reach Tirupathi which is 200 odd kms away .The route taken and the rattling of the bus made the journey most uncomfortable .It was .a horrible experience.In the process we missed the Rs 50 tickets (They returned Rs 50)and we were provided breakfast at 0930 hrs at some substandard hotel.We were forced to buy Rs 300 tickets and had to fend for ourselves not knowing where to even purchase the ticketsand this was supposed to be a conducted tour!.When we came out at 5 after 5 hrs of waiting for darshan at 4 pm ,we found that there were no arrangements for lunch .After 1/2 hr of waiting we were given some apology of tiffin which was some idly ,dosas and chapattis
in the same sub standard hotel .It was disgraceful the way we were treated.I have travelled thro ITDC,TTDC and it has been most comfortable and its shameful how this conducted tour was conducted .Thats not the end of our miseries,we were asked to visit the padmavati temple while the driver was to bring the bus to the main road point and wait for us in 1/2 hours time which was by 7 pm.We were waiting on that road from 7 pm to 9pm and there was no sign of the bus .We did not have our slippers or mobiles as we had left it in the vehicles as its not allowed in the temple .We ware horrified and did not know if the driver had run off with our belongings or what had happened..For 2 whole hours we were standing on the main road and searching for the bus .At the end of it myself and one of the senior co passengers Mr Rupwate,took an auto (bare footed)and went in search of the local Southern travels office with the intention of giving a police complaint in case we couldnt trace the bus .Can u imagine our plight ?
After which we got a call on the auto drivers phone from our other co passenger that the bus had finally come.We went back and I had to pay Rs 100 for the futile auto ride .The bus driver informed us that the bus had developed some problems and had gone for repairs.Why are such sub standard buses used?That too at our costs ?

There were ladies ,children and we started at 2130 from Tirupathi .We had to go back to offices ,businesses etc and we had no clue when we would reach .It was a disaster and the return journey was as uncomfortable .I will never travel Southern travels again and never recommend this cheating dirty travels .I believe they are running a con business of cheating clients .It not just about losing money ,its about such a bad experience they have given your customers .All their awards and rewards can be as well junked if this is their level of service .Shame ,absolute shame on them .This is addressed specially to the management .Their driver and customer service executive did what they could in the circumstances to help but the larger picture here is how much do they value people and customers .ZERO I would say .I think they owe us all a written apology and a total refund of the costs if they have any concience at all .
Most unhappily and dissatisfied
Nilofer and all my co passengers .