Neeta Volvo : Pune to Mumbai / Mumbai to Pune
I have travelled umpteen number of times on Neeta's fleet of Volvos between Pune - Mumbai and vice versa. Neeta was one of the first operators to buy the
Volvo B7R buses and hence most of its fleet on the Mumbai - Pune sector is quite old. They are using the newer buses on the longer routes like Pune - Bangalore, Pune-Hyderabad
I would like to recall some experiences here.
July 2007 end: This Volvo B7R seemed to be the very first version one. I couldt make this out from the headlamp and the front rim design. Once inside, the engine was making a lot of sound, so was the airconditioning system too. And worse, the air vent system was hanging loose above the seats and was held back using tapes! Anyways, the bus took 4 hours from Pune station to Vashi junction and I payed Rs 210 for a window seat. On the expressway, the bus was flying,crossing the kilometer markers between 35-37secs frequently, with a best of 33.49 seconds, which means a true speed of 107.5km/h, or around 115km/h on the speedometer. Not bad for a 5-6 yr old bus.
Neeta is a big name here in this area but of late, people have realised that the buses on the Mumbai - Pune sector are quite old. I have not have had an opportunity to take a long distance neeta bus yet.
You can log onto http://www.neetavolvo.com/ for info on routes and timings.
28th November 2007
I just came from Pune to Mumbai in a Neeta Volvo today (28th November 2007)
I booked the 7:15am Dadar Neeta Volvo (as I had to get off at Nerul, New Mumbai)
The scheduled bus didnt come till 7:30am and only when some of us started questioning the guys did they allot another Neeta bus, which had just arrived from
Hyderabad to us.
1.As the bus had just come from an overnight trip, it was dirty inside. They didnt even clean it, or push all the seats back to the upright position. Great customer care!
2.The A/c was kept off till Parihar Chownk, a good 55mins from Ambica pump (station)
3.The bus was in a bad shape (nothing unusual for Neeta!)
7:15am – scheduled departure
7:35am – we finally leave
7:45am – Deccan (JM Road)
7:55am – Paud Road Neeta office
8:05am – Chandni chownk
8:18am – Pashan Road turn (opp that big TATA dealership)
8:25am – Parihar chownk. The bus waited for 10mins, before leaving at 8:35am
8:55am – Wakad
9:10am – The expressway starts
The bus took a 20min halt after the first toll-barrier. Also, we wasted another 5mins picking up two passengers from Lonavala (under the expressway)
10:50am – Finally got off at Nerul.
I payed 200bucks for this. Not worth it. Neeta volvo : going down the drain, soon
2nd December 2007 : Pune to Mumbai
This time I was lucky enough to have been dropped off at Parihar Chownk, Aundh.I got there at 12:15pm, in time for the Dadar Volvo. Ticket was for 220 bucks (!), and the bus waited for 10mins there before it took off. As usual, an old used bus. I have known to come that Neeta is purchasing old used buses from other operators. These old buses have generally been used on long routes and hence have 45 or 49 seats as compared to 53 for most of the Neeta Volvos. Hence a little more space. Everything was ok till the break point at Expressway where this bus halted for a good 35mins! Thirty five minutes. I saw two Shivneris (run by MSRTC) come and go in that time. Grrr.
RELATED READING:
Mumbai to Pune Volvo
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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14 comments:
MSRTC volvos are the best when it comes to travelling from Pune to Mumbai & vice versa. As MSRTC is a government organisation. The travel time is extremely less. I have been travelling for the past 5 years from Pune to Mumbai. I have travelled pretty much in all private,govt volvos and only MSRTC is the best out of them. DOnt even get me started on Neeta travls, their buses are horrible, stinky and never clean. Their drivers are rude and disgusting. And Neeta buses travel all over Pune and then all over Mumbai. Their seats are cramped and load blaring music adds a lot to your discomfort.
On the other hand the MSRTC buses rarely play any music, if played the volume is extreme low. A typical travel time from Pune to Dadar hovers around 2.45 hours to 3.30 hours depeneding on traffic. I love travelling in these buses as they are clean and drivers are govt employees so are trained. Not like private bus drivers who seem to be driving trucks.
I usually travel by train however i miss the train so i decide to catch the msrtc volvo but travel by msrtc is amazing. its very fast than normal volvo. nornam volvo take the 3 or 3.5 hrs but msrtc take 2.30 min flat at night time i cathc on sunday at 10 pm i am reach at 12.30 am at dadar. its was so fast than the normal volvo operator. but ticket is high than the other operator.
sun : MSRTC Shivneri volvo costs 225 as compared to 180/200 for other operators. But remember you get more leg space and the buses reach faster. I think extra money is worth it
Niraj Taksande
Volvo- German Engineering... and these Neeta ppl are making such a mess of Brand VOLVO... the buses are truely in horrible condition. (August 2008)I caught a Neeta B7R Volvo from Kalamboli, the point where Expressway starts. Although great Vinyls from outside and gr8 speed, this box on wheel was vibrating at the resonating frequency. Now paying such a sum and no comfort is simply disgusting. It feels even more bad when a respectable brand like Volvo is maintained and treated like a step-son.
The 3 Hr drive gave me a serious headache.
Now since Kinglong and Merc too have landed their masterpieces on these roads, competition is tough for the Volvos as they are comparetively older on these roads.
I feel ppl from volvo, in order to maintain their brand, should sell these buses to only those who can prove their capability of maintaining them. additionaly, yearly inspection of theses buses should be done by the volvo ppl and some visible indications should be put up on the front windscreen certified by the inspectors...
Save VOLVO.
Niraj: Very true. Volvo should make a policy of how the buses should be maintained by operators. They have a policy of giving their buses only to volvo trained drivers. likewise, they should have a policy of minimum standards for the buses as well.
Hope Volvo is reading this!
Hello.......... Volvo- German Engineering.
Its a blog for volvo n ppl dont even know its origin...too sad.
VOLVO is Swedish company.
Hope u guys put some interesting stories ahead.
Good works, cheers.
anonymous : comments are not meant to be edited. and hence Niraj's comment was left as it is
cheers
Hi..... its anonymous. Totally fine if u cant edit Niraj's comments.
hello der, u said u often travel mumbai-bangalore.
So apart frm VRL some good volvo service is der like PVG TRANSLINE, PAI ASSOCIATES, KSRTC.
In future if u travel by these buses do write abt it.
keep posting n happy travelling
I have written about KSRTC. never used PAI. I guess they ply only between Mumbai-Belgaum and Bangalore-Belgaum.
ALso, have a look at the main page. I just updated this blog with the mercedes benz bus crash pics!!!
travelling on volvos between pune and munbai i bet ksrtc and apsrtc buses are the best , these buses r well maintained and take less time , next do use them
Shivneri(msrtc) volvos r best from mum pune as compared 2 the other private bus operators msrtc are 1o times good than neeta their buses r old and used on long trips before ,once a while i was travelling from dadar 2 pune in a msrtc volvo the scheduld time was 8am and it departed at sharped 8 they r sharp about their time,the ariving time was 11 but the bus reached at 10.45 the bus was flying it was very smoth the condition was very good and the driver soi love travelling in msrtc volvo
Dear Friends
I am Deepak. I booked a ticket with Neeta Travels for 25-Jan-2008 from Mumbai to Sridi. My seat number was confirmed but at the time of boarding the bus the conductor and other helper forcefully changed my seat and made me seated in a seat which was highly uncomfortable and next to driver’s seat. I called to the Neeta Travle also but those guys clearly said “either sit on the provided seat or else get down from the bus”. The behavior of Neeta travel and the staff was ridiculous and very very rude.
Hence with such a worst experience which I faced, I will suggest you never go for NEETA TRAVELS.
Regards
Deepak
Thanks for your comments on my blog-aceguide.blogspot.com.
Though I didn't mention my experience with Nita's Mercedes Benz, it was far from being good.
HI MY NAME IS SAI KIRAN I WAS LEAVING VIJAYAWADA TO HYDERABAD AT 11:30 PM THERE WERE NO BUSES AT THAT TIME TO HYDERABAD SO I CAME OUT OF TH BUS STOP AND I WAS WAITING FOR THE PRIVATE BUS OUT SIDE AT 11:50 A BUS CAME THE BUS WAS BELONGING TO SREE KALESWARI TRAVELS IT WAS A NEW ISUZU BUS COMING FROM VISAKHAPATNAM THE BUS WAS GOING TO HYDERABAD I WENT INTO THE BUS AND I GOT THE V.I.P TICKET THE TICKET WAS COSTING RS.500 THE BUS WAS SEMI SLEEPER AND WAS CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE THE BUS WENT TO THE HIGHWAY AT 12:15 AM THE BUS STOPED FOR FUEL AT NANDIGAMA FROM THERE THE BUS TOOK 3 1/2 HRS TO GO TO HYDERABAD I WAS SEATED BESIDE DRIVER AT SURYA PET THE BUS WAS GOING AT 140 KM/PH ACTUALLY THE APSRTC BUS WILL TAKE AROUND 6 TO 7 HRS FROM VIJAYAWADA TO HYDERABAD BUT THIS PRIVATE BUS TOOK 5 1/2 HRS TO REACH HYDERABAD THE BUS WAS SO RASH I HAVE REACHED THE DESTINATION AT4:00 AM IT WAS A NICE FEELING THAT I HAD CAME 2 HRS BEFORE
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