Ben’s Jottings

There has been a steady increase in the number of people, who prefer buses over trains for different reasons, with non-availability or big waiting lists for most of the major trains being the major reason. Bus operators on their part are trying to woo these passengers by operating AC and Sleeper Coach Buses, and providing various features including e-ticketing.

The following table provides you the web links through which you can reserve bus tickets, online. Few sites require registration before one could book tickets. ONLINE reservation facility is provided by bus operators, and by third parties (independent agents). In third party sites, we can compare services (especially ticket fare and timing) from different operators on a same route. Most of the sites accept credit and debit cards, and few sites accept ITZ cash card, as well. 

Links to Service Providers’ Websites

If I have missed out any other sites, kindly leave it as comments.

The much awaited Volvo Air Conditioned City buses are to hit the Chennai City Roads from September 17, 2007. This news item was published in Tamil Daily “Daily Thanthi” on Wednesday. Although, the routes on which the buses are to ply have not been announced, the buses are expected to be pressed on some famous routes such as 21G, A18, 70, and 19 G. On the first phase, MTC is going to introduce 10 buses.

The buses have many passenger friendly features including

 - Tilting the bus on left or right side and increasing the height of the bus according to the requirements. (volvos need this to run on our roads )

- The suspension would also ensure jerk-free travel for commuters

 - Physically-challenged and elders can board the buses with their wheel chairs.

 - provision for wheel chairs to be fastened with the seats.

 - LED scrolling boards will also be in place in the front, rear and sides of the vehicle for route information.

 - Automatic doors in the front and rear with sensors, provision for laptop connection and mobile phone charger, channel music system and public announcement (PA) system to give information to passengers will be the other attractions.

So Chennaites can go for a rock on these buses. The idea of the state government is to bring the people travelling by their four wheelers to the buses, thus reducing the number of vehicles on road. The coming months will tell, whether the government succeeds in this.

Hats Off to IRCTC

In recent times, IRCTC has done a good work – from setting up food kiosks in railway stations to managing Pantry Cars at some of the major inter-city (IC) trains and long-route trains.

But the most remarkable achievement for me is the online reservation facility being offered by this organization at www.irctc.co.in which has made train ticket booking, a hassle free affair. Gone are the days people waited for hours at reservation counters, more often than not setting aside some productive hours for this task. This online ticket reservation facility comes handy while booking tatkal reservation, as when we stand in the queue the odds of getting a tatkal ticket on some of the famous trains like Pandiyan or KK Express are less.

But the other day, when I decided to use this facility, to my greater shock, I found this site was closed for maintenance on a Sunday. By the time, I reached the nearest reservation counter, alas it’s too late. Tatkal Quota itself moved to Waiting List. I cursed for being more tech-savvy that day.

Otherwise the site is too cooooooooooool.

So next time you propose for a trip by train, why don’t you try www.irctc.co.in

NOTE: for logging on you need to register (hardly it’ll take two mins in a 256K line) and you should have credit/debit card

Happy Journey