DVD Coach

Ive just returned from Pune, where Id gone to see someone. I went by a private bus operator ( Neeta Volvo) which is immensly popular on the Bombay-Pune route. The journey takes more than four hours, of which 1.5 hrs are spent in getting out of Bombay. Its only after Panvel when you hit the expressway that you are truly on your way. These Volvo buses move at a speed of over 110 km/h on the expressway, which is something that was unheard of earlier. At least some quality infrastructure in place. And the steep banking of the expressway on turning, indicates the speeds that vehicles go on this route. Anyway for 250 bucks its quite allright. Luckily the bus pases right in front of the place Im supposed to go in Pune, so it was good. I returned by Konduskar, another private bus operator running Volvo buses on this route. Neeta Volvo runs 30 services each way, all day. I just hope that the quality of travel and the maintenance of the buses remains good, else the business is likely to crumble.

All these buses show some current Bollywood flick on the way. Earlier this used to be a novelty - to see a film on the buses' VCR and so many transporters had christened their buses as "Video Coaches". Transporters have moved along with technology and now many have DVD players for the films. And correspondingly have re-christened their services as "DVD Coach" etc.

If one doesnt particularly like Bollywood films (like me) then the film playing on the bus can be a bit of a pain, but then in a 3-4 hr. journey its tolerable.

Also lucliky they didnt stop for too long at the malls and food courts when they have a halt to fill diesel. Maybe they have a tie up on the percentages with the malls/foodcourts on the purchases by our compulsive-spending public. So they are likely to have a long halt at these places. After all its the bucks that are pouring in.