Hebron Transports B9R TRV-BLR

It was Diwali time and I had gotten tickets for onward journey in Kallada G4 (rather SK then) , it was getting difficult to get return tickets. This is when I called up the Hebron Chennai office to see if they have any tickets for Monday(04th November 2013). They asked me to call back after a few days . In the meanwhile I saw the listing for a last row seat on Tuesday.

The bus just after delivery in Feb 2013. Image courtesy Binai Shankar.

Tuesday afternoon I was in Madiwala to get my onward tickets,on the way back I decided to stop by at Hebron office. After a brief chit chat he issued me two tickets for monday at a fare of Rs1300 per seat.  This on a date when most operators were selling at 1650 and more. Got back home and left by that nights G4 to Trivandrum . The operational levels at G4 have dropped. The 21:30 bus departed from Madiwala by only 22:10 and reached Trivandrum by 9:45.

On Moday called by Hebron Chennai office to enquire if they do non stop or if they do stop for dinner. They provided me with the Trivandrum agents number. Unfortunately this number was switched off through the Day. Called back to the Chennai iffice in the evening and confirmation with somebody was told that they do stop for dinner. So left home at 18:45 and had a stop over to hand over some documents. Did that and got to music college around 19:15.

I was greeted by Arul,  a regullar driver with hebron who has been driving the Chennai service almost since inception. We had a small cit chat. Left the luggage in the boot, and got into our seats. 9 and 10 RHS third row seats. The bus had AC on and was very pleasant . There was also some freshener used. As we got seated the attendant came around and handed half liter bottles of bisleri and packed shawl(bed sheet). This has been one great thing with Hebron. Providing washed and clean sheet in a nice cover. I had a chat with Arul and he told me that they normally have been doing non stop, but said he will be happy to stop for dinner if there is a place.

Some people were boarded for the UFX to chennai , as the bus does not have a KL permit and was waiting in Nagercoil. We waited till 19:45 as two seats were yet to arrive, and we left without these seats. This was the second run of the bus and there was a bit of confusion with the travel agent guy running around and checking tickets and reconfirming them. Even for small adjustments he was running around. Later realized that one of the booking guys had given the wrong seat numbers to a ticket and the real occupants had arrived late. The travel guy asked them to board the next private bus to Nagercoil and said we will wait there.

We picked up a few seats and exited from Marthandam. We reached Nagercoil and near Vetoornimadam and got all the UFX passengers alighted. This wasted a good 10 minutes. Then we got in the Private bus stand in Nagercoil . I got out for a bio break and was roaming around, when I noticed a small hotel had come within the premises. Took 1 plate of parotta for wife. It tasted pretty decent.

There was a lot of post diwali rush and an enraged(and drunk) agent even threatened the driver  for refusing seats . The driver just laughed it off. By ow time was 10 and we were waiting for the G4 fromtrivandrum to arrive with the two passengers. The bus arrive at 22:20 PM and there were 2 ladies,  they stood near the door and started shouting at the drivers. The drivers just kept mum. It kept on going for more than 5 minutes. Finally lost my cool ,walked to the front and told the ladies to board the bus , and we can discuss it . Also told them that will give them Hebron Chennai Head office number . They still continued shouting and said you need to not bother to involve in the conversation as this does not affect you. it was over 10 mins since they had arrived and there was seemingly no end to it. Walked up near the door and said please get in if you want to otherwise we are leaving , as over 40 people were waiting for the past half an hour for them to board , and were getting delayed for no reason. I had my hand on the door open/close knob, this finally did the trick.

I still feel bad that I had to behave in such a fashion to a third person , that too to a par of ladies. We left Nagercoil at 22:40(Over 3 hours for the first 70 kms). Unfortunately these ladies were sitting right behind me and started conversing in Hindi. I immediately realized that  they were from bihar. Their dialect and slang was clear, they were calling up all their relatives and blaming that bus had bit been in front of music college and had departed from some 'dingra road' . I was just laughing within myself thinking 'When you do not know something some people do not just shut up'. As we neared kavalkinaru arul called me to the front and asked my help in locating the hotel. I guided him to the one in the HP fuel station . The break was a short one for about 20 min.

The bus just after delivery in Feb 2013. Image courtesy Binai Shankar.

We left the hotel at 23:25 PM having covered only about 90 Kms of our 700+ KM journey.  Now the ladies behind me had an issue when I reclined the seat to sleep. They were like "I can not move my legs , so you recline your seat half only". I completly lost it. I said "I am putting it to normal recline , I need to sleep and need to be in office next day". If it were a bunch of guys they would have possibly  got a proper verbal lashing from me.

On the  4 lane the bus was flying. We reached tirunelveli vannarpet at 23:45 and went in for pickup to the old bus stand. We left tirunelveli and I went off to sleep. We passed Salem at about 4:30 and got past Hosur at 6:30. This is waht I recall in between my sleep. We were passing the Attibelle toll at 6:40 I decided to book my Meru at 7:15 from madiwal . In 2 min were stopped for RTO checking. I cancelled my cab and steeped off the bus. The cleaner told me Arul had got off the bus and had asked him to inform me. All the buses were there including theKPN's, SK , G4, SLS  etc.

We finally left attibele at 7:35 and reached maidwala by the BETL by 8:10. It was amazing driving by the pair. We had taken about 12:30 end to end , but if not for the wasted time this would have been a 10:30 or 11 hour trip. Hebron has done a good job on bus maintenance and on board  amenities. The sector though is witnessing high competition with increased number of operators, If they can maintain the standards they will become among the best in this route.

PS: I do not hold ay prejudice towards Biharis ( have a quite a number of friends from Bihar),these are events as happened.