[Resolved]  B. E. S. T. Undertaking — DEFICIENCY OF SERVICE-BEST UNDERATKING A/C 700 BUS

THE SERVICE/FACILITIES BEING PROVIDED FOR A/C BUS 700 ARE PATHETIC.
THE A/C DOES NOT FUNCTION MOST OF THE TIMES, BUT THE FARE IS TAKEN FOR A/C & CONDUCTOR'S ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY DEPOT, EVEN IF THE A/C JUST WORKED WHILE LEAVING DEPOT & IMMEDIATELY BECAME NON FUNCTIONAL, ONE IS ASKED TO TRAVEL BY KEEPING FANS ON, WHILE REALITY IS FANS ALSO DO NOT WORK & MANY TIMES FANS ARE NOT THERE.THERE IS NO SHADE AT THE BUS STAND AT BORIVALI EAST STARTING POINT, THUS CAUSING GREAT HARDSHIP'S IN MONSOON.THE BUSES DO NOT RUN ON TIME & THERE IS NOBODY TO ANSWER REASON FOR DELAY. STAFF RUNNING THE BUSES HAVE EXPRESSED HELPLESSNESS, i.e, CONDUCTOR'S SAY THEY ARE FORCED TO MOVE IN BUSES WHICH ARE FAULTY FROM THE START SINCE THEY ARE VERY OLD & ALMOST ON THE VERGE OF BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SERVICE, WHILE DRIVERS SAY THE BUSES DO NOT PICK UP SPEED & IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLIMB ON THE GHAT SECTION .EMAIL SENT LAST MONTH HAS NOT EVOKED ANY RESPONSE, THOUGH I HAVE SENT THEM A REMINDER LAST WEEK AS WELL.ONE REPLY TO OTHER PEOPLE WHICH WAS CIRCULATED ON THE NET SAID REPAIRS TO THE BUS ARE NOT POSSIBLE, SINCE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND NOT GUARANTEED THAT AFTER REPAIR THEY WILL WORK PROPERLY.
. WHILE THIS ROUTE IS SUFFERING, NEW ROUTES ARE BEING ADDED FOR KINGLONG BUSES, FROM HIRANANDANI ESTATE TO MUMBAI & PLANS FOR MUMBAI TO NAVI MUMBAI, BUT ONLY A/C 700 BUS PASSENGER'S ARE SUFFERING. IN MONSOON THE BUSES LEAK FROM ROOFTOP & CONDUCTORS COOLLY SAY THE ONLY OPTION IS TO CHANGE SEATS. SEATS ARE ALMOST OUT OF PLACE & ONE LITERALLY TURNS WITH THESE SEATS AS THE BUS TAKES A TURN, RIGHT OR LEFT. MULUND DEPOT OFFICIALS INTERACTED WITH LAST WEEK SAID IF ONE BUS IS FAULTY CATCH ANOTHER BUS. WHICH BUS IS OK TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE ONE? I HAVE TAKEN A QUARTERLY BUS PASS, & AFTER PAYING MORE WHY SHOULD I SUFFER IN SILENCE. RECENTLY THE DOOR'S OF ONE OF THE BUS WAS NOT OPENING & THIS WAS THE CASE WHEN THE BUS ITSELF CAME AFTER A PERIOD OF 45 MINUTES.ANOTHER BUS SIMULTANEOUSLY WAS LYING PUNCTURED & A THIRD JUST PASSED BY EMPTY WITH NO INFORMATION ON IT'S REASON FOR NOT RUNNING.THE DEPOT MANAGER BASED AT MULUND SAYS THERE IS NO PROVISION AT BEST, FOR REFUND OF MONEY IF A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE ONLY THING THEY ARE CONCERNED IS THAT THE SAME SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL WHEN THE BUS START'S FROM THE DEPOT.

R.G.SHROFF