Disclaimer: The
opinions expressed here are framed after the author’s individual experiences.
It is definitely not an attempt to bias the opinions of the future travelers on
this route.
Prologue: Since
last couple of months, I am travelling every weekend to Mumbai. General plan is
to leave Shirpur late in the evening (sometimes midnight) every Friday and
reach Mumbai (Andheri) next morning. Attend my Ph. D. course work at our
institute in Juhu and return back in the evening reaching Shirpur at Sunday
morning (in wee hours). Once or twice I preferred Dhule-Mumbai slip coaches
that are carried by 51118 DHI-CSN passenger and get attached to 11058
Amritsar-CST Mumbai express at Chalisgaon and in return journey by 11057, get
detached at Chalisgaon and attached to 51111 CSN-DHI passenger. Though this
mode is the most comfortable one, timings of it and the responsibilities
here in my institute, do not allow me to prefer it most of the times. Hence I have to prefer
road travel.
I have
experimented purposefully by exploring various options available on this route
and still exploring a lot. This is the small presentation of my experiences.
1) Date: 31/07/2015 to 01/08/2015
Travel: Shirpur
to Mumbai (Andheri E)
Bus No: MH-18 /
AN 8055, Ashok Leyland, Viking Model
Seat / Berth no:
20 (Lower single berth on the left in fourth row. In all 5 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator:
Sai Abhishek Travels, Shirpur
Body built at: Azad, Banglore.
Travel Time: 9
hours 54 minutes (31/07/2015 20.36 to 01/08/2015 06.30)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 3
(Nothing special to mention)
2. Air
conditioning: 2
(They used to shut it off during night and it was
causing suffocation inside as the windows are of fixed type)
3. Suspension: 3
(Nothing special to appreciate or to criticize either)
4. Cleanliness: 4
(May be due to Shirpur is the starting point for this
bus. But is was very good)
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 3
7. Punctuality in
timings: 4
(A lot of buffer time is provided. 430 kms in 10 hours
is a lot of slag considering that all the stretch of this road is a 4 lane
road)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 1
(Charger points were in non working condition. Now a
days, looking at the smart phone users and their usage throughout the day,
charging point is an essential commodity. My cell phone got discharged and I
had to wait till 10.00 next morning to find the charging facility for it.
Blankets were not provided.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 3
(Nothing special to mention)
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 3
(They do not stop for dinner. That’s
the major drawback. Preferring this bus means I will have to have my dinner too
early.)
Overall ratings: 30 /50 (60 %)
This bus
managed to get first class marks.
Commenets: Decided to try out different bus on
this route because of inconvenient timings and service inside the bus
especially lack of charging point and blanket.
2) Date: 01/08/2015
and 02/08/2015
Travel: Andheri
(E) to Shirpur
Bus No: MH-41
passing. Eicher 10.5 m model.
Seat / Berth no:
9 (Lower single berth on the left in second row. In all 5 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator: Chawla
Travels, Indore
Body built at: Indore
Travel Time: 8
hours 20 minutes (01/08/2015 20.10 to 02/08/2015 05.30)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 3
(Nothing special to mention)
2. Air
conditioning: 3
3. Suspension: 3
(Nothing special to appreciate or to criticize either)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 3
7. Punctuality in
timings: 3
(Started 30 minutes late and never attempted to make
up the lost time.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 3
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. Nice quality of blankets.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 3
(Nothing special to mention)
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 3
(It stops for
dinner at Hotel Atithi, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It charges exorbitantly to the
passengers for the food. Cleanliness and taste at this point is fairly below
average.)
Overall ratings: 32 /50 (64 %)
This bus, too, managed
to get first class marks.
Commenets: Decided to try out another bus on
this route because I found Eicher bus is not at all a good option for such a
long distance travel. It required extra efforts for the engine to climb up
simple gradients which would have been never noticed in any other buses.)
3) Date: 22/08/2015
and 22/08/2015
Travel: Shirpur
to Andheri (E)
Bus No: TN 56 E
9454. Volvo 9400 Multi Axle sleeper coach.
Seat / Berth no:
SL 16 (Lower single berth on the left in fourth row. In all 6 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator: Verma
Travels, Bhopal
Body built at: Azad,
Banglore
Travel Time: 6
hours 30 minutes (22/08/2015 01.40 to 22/08/2015 08.10)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend:5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 4
2. Air
conditioning: 4
3. Suspension: 3
(Multi axle Volvo could had been with better
suspensions. I think the suspensions are not maintained for this oldie. I felt
a few bumps on the road during travel)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 4
7. Punctuality in
timings: 4
(Started 1 hour
30 minutes late and but attempted to make up the lost time.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. LCD Tvs were also with sufficiently big screen and were working.
Wi Fi and GPS services with the bus were working. Nice quality of blankets.
Toilet was provided for both genders inside the bus.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: NA
(It did not stop at anywhere en
route. Not even for bio break for passengers as toilets were provided inside
the coach itself.)
Overall ratings: 35 /45 (77.77 %)
This bus managed
to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time.
4) Date: 22/08/2015
and 23/08/2015
Travel: Andheri
(E) to Shirpur
Bus No: TN 56 E
9454. Volvo 9400 Multi Axle sleeper coach.
Inside ambiance of the coach by Verma, Bhopal.
Seat / Berth no:
SL 15 (Lower single berth on the left in third row. In all 6 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator:
Verma Travels, Bhopal
Body built at:
Azad, Banglore
Travel Time: 7 hours
48 minutes (22/08/2015 19.10 to 23/08/2015 02.58)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 4
2. Air conditioning: 4
3. Suspension: 3
(Multi axle Volvo could had been with better
suspensions. I think the suspensions are not maintained for this oldie. I felt
a few bumps on the road during travel. This time lesser bumps were felt as my
berth was one row ahead of the previous one I travelled.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 4
7. Punctuality in
timings: 4
(Started 30 minutes late and and attempted to make up
the lost time.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. LCD Tvs were also with sufficiently big screen and were working.
Wi Fi and GPS services with the bus were working. Nice quality of blankets.
Toilet was provided for both genders inside the bus.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 3
(It stops for
dinner at Hotel Atithi, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It charges exorbitantly to the
passengers for the food. Cleanliness and taste at this point is fairly below
average.)
Overall
ratings: 38 /50 (76 %)
This bus again managed
to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time. In return journey this bus lost some of its
grades just because of selection of poor place for place of dinner.)
5) Date: 28/08/2015
and 28/08/2015
Travel: Shirpur
to Andheri (E)
Bus No: MP-41 /
P 2777. Ashok Leyland Viking model. Sleeper coach.
Seat / Berth no:
14 (Lower double berth on the right in third row. In all 5 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator: Citizen
Travels, Indore
Body built at: VEERA,
Banglore
Travel Time: 7
hours 30 minutes (28/08/2015 01.35 to 28/08/2015 09.05)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 4
(Extremely comfortable bus. It did not let us feel the
road at all. Great build quality. Only point it lost from getting perfect 5 was
the height of the lower single berths. It was not sufficient for an average
person to sit during day time comfortably. )
2. Air
conditioning: 4
3. Suspension: 5
(Better than multi axle Volvos on this route.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 5
7. Punctuality in
timings: 3
(Started 1 hour 30 minutes late )
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. LCD Tvs were also with sufficiently big screen and were working.
Nice quality of blankets.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 2
(It stops for morning
tea at an extremely shabby place, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It charges
exorbitantly to the passengers for the food. Cleanliness at this point is fairly below average.)
Overall
ratings: 39 /50 (78 %)
This bus managed
to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time just because of comfort in travel.
6) Date: 19/09/2015
and 19/09/2015
Travel: Shirpur to Andheri (E)
Bus No: MP-13 /
TA 5555. Ashok Leyland Viking model. Sleeper coach. (Actually the scheduled bus
was MP 41 / P 2777 but it was changed at the last moment for maintenance
purpose.)
Seat / Berth no:
9 (Lower single berth on the left in second row. In all 5 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator:
Citizen Travels, Indore
Body built at: SUTLEJ
Coach and Body builders, Patiala.
Travel Time: 8
hours 00 minutes (19/09/2015 01.30 to 19/09/2015 09.30)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 5
(Extremely comfortable bus. Though an old one, it did
not let us feel the road at all. Great build quality.
2. Air
conditioning: 4
3. Suspension: 5
(Better than multi axle Volvos on this route.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 5
7. Punctuality in
timings: 3
(Started 1 hour 30 minutes late )
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. LCD Tvs were also with sufficiently big screen and were working.
Nice quality of blankets.)
9.
Inside ambience of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 2
(It stops for morning
tea at an extremely shabby place, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It charges
exorbitantly to the passengers for the food. Cleanliness at this point is fairly below average.)
Overall
ratings: 40 /50 (80 %)
Though old, this
bus managed to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time just because of comfort in travel.
7) Date: 19/09/2015
and 20/09/2015
Travel: Andheri
(E) to Shirpur
Bus No: TN 56 E
9454. Volvo 9400 Multi Axle sleeper coach.
Seat / Berth no:
SL 14 (Lower single berth on the left in second row. I all 6 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator:
Verma Travels, Bhopal
Body built at:
Azad, Banglore.
Travel Time: 9
hours 10 minutes (19/09/2015 18.50 to 20/08/2015 04.00)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 4
2. Air
conditioning: 4
3. Suspension: 3
(Multi axle Volvo could had been with better
suspensions. I think the suspensions are not maintained for this oldie. I felt
a few bumps on the road during travel. This time lesser bumps were felt as my
berth was one row ahead of the previous one I travelled.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 4
7. Punctuality in
timings: 3
(Started only 20 minutes late but reached almost 1
hour 30 minutes late.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. LCD Tvs were also with sufficiently big screen and were working.
Wi Fi and GPS services with the bus were working. Nice quality of blankets.
Toilet was provided for both genders inside the bus.)
9.
Inside ambiance of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 3
(It stops for
dinner at Hotel Atithi, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It charges exorbitantly to the
passengers for the food. Cleanliness and taste at this point is fairly below
average.)
Overall
ratings: 37 /50 (74 %)
This bus again managed
to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time. In return journey this bus lost some of its
grades just because of selection of poor place for place of dinner and failure to
make up the delay.)
8) Date: 10/10/2015
and 10/10/2015
Travel: Shirpur
to Thane (Majiwada Jn.)
Bus No: UP 75 / M
3552. TATA 1510 Cummins Sleeper coach.
Seat / Berth no:
15 (Lower single berth on the left in third row. In all 5 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator: Hans
Travels, Indore
Body built at: Indore
Travel Time: 7
hours 10 minutes (10/10/2015 12.20 to 10/10/2015 07.30)
Distance: 390
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 4
2. Air
conditioning: 3 (The Air Conditioning vents were not
at all user friendly. One had to call the coach attendant to open and close it
quite often.)
3. Suspension: 5
(Though an old bus but the suspensions were excellent.
We hardly felt the road beneath.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 4
7. Punctuality in
timings: 4
(Started only 30 minutes late but managed to make up
the delay.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 4
(Charger points were in working condition. Blankets
were provided. Quality of blankets was average. Toilet was provided only for ladies
inside the bus.)
9.
Inside ambiance of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: NA
(It did not
stop for morning tea.)
Overall
ratings: 36 /45 (80 %)
Surprisingly this
bus managed to get distinction grade marks.
Commenets: Decided to try the same travel bus
on this route for another time. It was
poor selection by me this time on Red Bus. Instead of a bus destined for
Borivali, I selected bus destined for Dadar and hence had to break my journey
to Andheri at Thane and then proceed.
9) Date: 10/10/2015
and 11/10/2015
Travel: Andheri
(E) to Shirpur
Bus No: KA - 01
/ AA 6840. VOLVO BR 9 Multi Axle Sleeper coach.
Seat / Berth no:
C-5 (Lower single berth on the left in third row. In all 6 rows of berths for
passengers. One row of two berths perpendicular to the motion of the bus for
Drivers rest)
Bus operator: NEETA
Travels, Mumbai
Body built at: Kardar
Ramdev Coach Body builders, Pune
Travel Time: 8
hours 40 minutes (10/10/2015 19.30 to 11/10/2015 04.10)
Distance: 430
kms. (Approximately)
Ratings and reviews
Legend: 5- Excellent 4-very good 3-average 2-below average
1- poor
1. Seat or berth
comfort: 2
(Not at all comfortable berths. Volvos built by Kardar
Ramdev are extremely uncomfortable. This is my second experience of travel in
such a coach. First was the experience in Volvo 9400 by Khurana Travels from Sangola
to Nagpur in October 2012. It was equally annoying experience.)
2. Air
conditioning: 2
(The Air Conditioning vents were located at one end of
the berth. For Verma travels Volvo the air conditioning vents are well
distributed along the length of the bus. In this case, it was a poor planning
of air conditioning console at one end of the berth.)
3. Suspension: 1
(Hard to believe that one is travelling in a multi
axle Volvo. Poor maintenance of suspensions. Felt every tiny pothole on the
road.)
4. Cleanliness: 4
5.
Staff behavior with passengers: 4
6.
Driving: 1
(Extremely poor. Acceleration and braking was always
exceeding passenger comfort levels. There were only 9 passengers in a coach of
capacity 36 and no one complained but it was not at all comfortable.)
7. Punctuality in
timings: 2
(Started 1 hour late. Never informed passengers. When
contacted the call centre for information on any delays, I was assured that the
bus is dot on time. But ultimately it was a wait for almost 1 hour at a place where NEETA has
an office but do not provide the basic facilities like comfortable sitting
place to the passengers boarding from there. One has to stand and wait. No
excuse for ladies and children from this silly rule. It never tried to make up
for the delay.)
8.
Essential amenities inside bus: 2
(Charger points were broken but fortunately in working
condition. Blankets were provided. Quality of blankets was below average. )
9.
Inside ambiance of the coach: 4
10.
Selection of
Places to stop for dinner / morning tea etc: 3
(It stops for
dinner at Hotel Pushkar Mela, near Padgha, Bhivandi. It also charges
exorbitantly to the passengers for the food. Cleanliness and taste at this
point is fairly below average.)
Overall
ratings: 25 /50 (50 %)
This bus hardly
managed to get passing marks. Forget about first class and distinction class.
Commenets: Decided never to try the same travel
bus on this route for another time. NEETA
travel has continued to disappoint me once again. First experience of NEETA
Volvo (53 seater B 7 R VOLVO with 13 cramped rows, instead of normal 10,was the
first agonizing experience by me in 2004 for travel from Shirdi to Mumbai. I
will never prefer this operator again.)
By the way, I generally used to book tickets on
Wednesday for my travel on Friday. On Thursday, I used to get discount offers
from Red Bus. This week, I have decided to book only after receiving discount
offers and I punched the bonus code offered by Red Bus to me. But it did not
work. I will not book by Red Bus. Instead I will definitely prefer the travel company
website to book my ticket.
