Review : Redbus.in

Recently I had to visit Vaishno devi with the family on the weekend. I tried to book the Tatkal tickets for the same but they also had waitlist upto 4. Being weekend, we thought it will be difficult to get the ticket for Bus also. Nevertheless, I thought why not try calling up these bus operators and ask them. So, google.com helped me in finding 'some' (read 2-3) bus operators that included Delhi,Haryana Roadways. Now, the problem being - they dont book the tickets on phone. And there is no online facility to block the tickets. I have to goto ISBT, and see if the tickets are available and then board them else come back home purchasing tickets for some other day. But we did not have any other day since my brother had office from Monday.

So, by chance I stumbled on the sponsored link of my search - RedBus.in. It was like something I had wished for had come true. Online Bus booking facility. WOW. What else can one ask for. But again online it said, all buses full so I called up the call centre just for reconfirmation. After 1 hour of persuasion, I managed to book 4 tickets for AC Sleeper bus from Delhi to Katra and AC Volvo Semi Sleeper from Katra to Delhi. I thought all done and was thanking Redbus.in and was planning to recommend it to everyone once I am back.....

But unfortunately, the buses that were booked were AWFUL, to say the least. The time of reporting was told us at 6 pm from CP and till 6:30 there was no bus on the designated location. And when it did arrive after much calls to the mobile number mentioned on the ticket it stopped for 2 hours at Meena bazaar, near Old Fort for 2 hours. It stopped there because bus was not fill to its capacity and needed more passengers whereas I was told the bus is all full and there is no seat. It did not move until the bus got the passengers which was at 9:30. On top of that the bus did not have complete papers and we were stalled at Jammu for about an hour and had to cover the remaining journey in a non ac bus. The whole journey took us about 18 hours to reach Katra whereas usually it takes maximum of 13 hours!!

Thanks to the bus 'RedBus.in' had booked and their association with Heera Travels.

The story is not over yet. On the way back, reporting time was 7:30 and the bus was not did not move until 8:30 and then the bus broke down and took an hour to repair. And the Volvo was
pathetic. It was shaking and trembling which spoilt the night journey experience. None of the passengers in the bus was able to sleep in the 12 hours journey thanks to the wonderful bus these people have. On top of that, it dropped us mid way at ISBT and not from the point where it picked us from and we had to travel in the auto to back to source destination.

I was so annoyed but the whole thing. And I thought whats the point in having such a service when they can assure us a good journey? I mean their job does not end by just providing an online facility. If the buses they have association with are not good, why will anyone book the ticket with them in the first place.

I think redbus.in has stuck upon a very innovative idea of providing online booking facility for bus. But if they dont improve the bus operators they are associated with, I am sorry to say but it will be another failed opportunity.