transporting a bike from BLR to HYD on airavat KSRTC volvo

[grazd]

Just in case someone needs this info, I thought I would share my experience.

I bought an airavat ticket for Hyderabad from the KSRTC counter at Jayanagar, the booking staff told me that I should reach the bus depot half an hour ahead of ETD. He also told me that the luggage should cost about rs.100.

The bike was new and boxed, so I could easily put it in an auto, (about 2' sticks out) 

One word of caution-  most auto drivers drive with such narrow margins of error that this is something that they forget. So you have to keep reminding them that there is a box that is jutting out. The driver took 50 extra for the over sized load.

I got to shanti nagar depot about an hour before departure, there is a waiting lounge at the corner of platform 1. I found a few KSRTC staff there, and asked them to book my luggage. They seemed reluctant to do any booking at all, rather asking me for rs.200, and without any paperwork done . I insisted on a receipt and did not want to bribe, so it took some more time for the booking guy to show up and get the job done. (it helps to know kannada to make this happen). I tried to resist paying any extra at all, but in the end, I paid 170 (on receipt), and another 50 on the side.  I was pretty tired lugging the box across town, and my negotiating skills were not good enough to get it done without bribing at all. 

Besides most folks thought I was carrying a massive flat screen TV, and it took me a while to convince them that it was a cycle. 

I loaded the box myself on the bus (in the cargo section), and did not have to pay anything to the conductor or driver. The box fits almost perfectly (height wise).  At Hyd, I unloaded the box, It had remained secure in the upright position that I had stored it in.

[mayank tripathi]

Has happened to me in most cases.worst is if you don't know the dialect/language.sometimes the conductor & driver have to be appeased

Regards
Mayank
MT

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