Kallada Travels — Driver’s behaviour
I had a horrible experience with kallada. I wanted to travel from Bombay to trivandrum by train. I was not getting any train tickets since it was April-may. I wanted to travel with my wife and 10 month old baby girl. Since I did not get any train I suggested Volvo to my wife. She refused initially saying it would be difficult to manage with baby. We also had a lot of luggage – 8 big bags.
The place I stay in Bombay is called Chembur – from here u get all the Volvo buses for any place. Finally we decided Volvo sine we just could not get train tickets. I decided that a direct bus would be best since it would be difficult to change luggage from one bus to another with baby and all. But alas there was no direct Volvo from Bombay to Trivandrum.
It seemed we had to change from Bangalore. Finally it seems there was a direct bus. I met an agent and he made me speak directly to the operator of the travels. He assured me the bus will travel directly from Bombay to Trivandrum – no need to get down in Bangalore to change luggage. I was so happy and so foolish to believe him. I don’t know if I should be called foolish. Just for getting my 2 tickets the operator lied to me. Guess the travels – kallada.
Anyway I was very happy until it was time to board the bus – then I had the shock of my life. Here I am waiting with my baby in arms and wife and 8 baggage. First of all to begin with the cleaner/loader of the kallada bus refused to let me on the bus with 8 bags. He said only 2 bags are allowed. (Why wasn’t I asked how much luggage I had at the time of booking) . The helper told me to cancel the booking on the spot. I got afraid and had to pay him 300 re’s that he demanded. Then I realised he cheated me. Then I got furious and demanded a receipt for that 300- they said they will give and then conveniently did not.
Anyway that was the start – the bus was dirty – the driver cleaner(2 cleaners) very rude. It was as if they were from the mafia. Then we reached bang lore – very unpleasant we had to change to a non-ac bus which would take us to the ac Volvo of theirs which was 5 km away- this happened in the afternoon and it was very hot and my baby started getting sick due to sweat. (At the time of booking I was told it would be a direct bus) I had to pay the helper to transfer my luggage from one bus to another.
Then we reached the ac Volvo – it traveled till hosier and then again another bus. Each time it was very difficult to transfer the luggage from one bus to another. I had to pay the bus helpers to transfer luggage. Finally I was hope full that the last bus would be comfortable. It became night finally.
They stopped every half hour to one hour and my 10 month old baby could not sleep because they kept switching on the lights during the night to let extra passengers in. Overall it was horrible experience.dirty bus. Rude drivers/cleaners, all lies no honest information. Just for your money they will tell you any lies. Please avoid Kallada guys. I even tried to complain in the bang lore Kallada office – but pathetic response.
Written by – Shyam Pillai
