Kochi: The good, bad and ugly private buses

Kochi: Keralites studying and working in Bangalore do not have cheerful experiences with private buses. In the wake of an untoward incident involving 'Suresh Kallada Travels' at Vytilla on Sunday morning, many passengers have voiced their opinions on the unacceptable behaviour of the bus crew.

Ajmal Jaseem, a cafe owner in Bangalore who hails from Perinthalmanna, expressed his discomfort with Suresh Kallada Travels . "I booked a ticket on it because the drop point was Madiwala when I travelled a few weeks back. However, the staff asked me to get down at Kalasipalyam, which is nine km from Madiwala, without citing any reasons and said that I could get into their next bus that comes that way and the bus then left. I waited there for almost an hour, but could not find any bus. Finally, I booked a cab to get back home," he said. He lodged a complaint with the Kallada officials who never responded following which he stopped travelling by Kallada Travels.

Another person on condition of anonymity complained that the Kallada bus that she travelled from Bangalore to Kozhikode was infested with bed bugs that bit her and her children. "We were unable to sleep the whole night because of this," she said.

Mathew George, an MBA student in Bangalore, who hails from Kottayam, said he also faced issues with the Kallada staff.

 "They were nonchalant and not service-minded, which made me think twice before booking a ticket on their bus afterwards."

Adarsh, an IT professional who travels frequently from Kochi to Bangalore by Orange Travels, said, "although the KSRTC buses are cheaper, private buses are more comfortable to travel in." Karun, another IT professional, who also commutes on the same route, shared the view. "Private buses, like KPN, SRS and Kerala Lines are more punctual compared to KSRTC buses," he said.

P. Mathew, an IT professional who travels every two months from Bangalore to his native place at Thodupuzha and back, said, "I have never faced an issue with Kallada and don't mind using the same travels next time also."

The majority of the people were of the opinion that not all private buses are bad but most of them had issues with Kallada Travels. Anju, a student in Bangalore who travels from Vadakara, said, "I usually travel by PK Travels and till date, I have not had any issues."