What happens at Kashmiri Gate

"Don't worry guys. The buses run throughout the day (and night). Both of you can catch the Amritsar bus anytime". It was my brother and me telling our young nephews, who were to leave back to Amritsar, ourselves unaware of the fact that there was a huge gap of around 3-4 hours between the bus we missed and the next one. We reached the Kashmiri Gate ISBT to board the bus, but as I said, we were caught napping.

We talked to a few conductors and bus drivers to drag a few bit of information, praying there is a bus that's just about to come. No. The Volvo was scheduled for 9:30 p.m and right now the clock painfully displayed 5:45 p.m. We saw each other's blank faces and decided to wait until this slim looking man asked us "You want to go to Amritsar? There's a bus standing. Get your seats reserved because lot of people have already booked theirs." I asked which bus is that, as in a Volvo or a Mercedes. "It's Libra" Since I saw a Libra bus that belonged to Punjab Roadways leave a few minutes ago, it sounded fine. But the final nail in the coffin was the price. "550" he said, "and you will be there in 7-8 hours". Sounds like a cool deal, isn't it? It was the beginning of our misery.

"Where's the bus?" I asked. He said it is parked at the back side of KG Terminal. My only concern was that our nephews should be inside the bus, no matter if we had to wait for 2-3 hours to leave. It was getting cold already. Brother and I just wanted to make sure both of them are safe. We agreed to go with him to the "back side". He brought us to a spot right under the last Metro Pillar which joins the Metro line to the KG Metro station (when the train comes in from Indraprastha). There were pan-sellers, chips-sellers and clothes-sellers screaming at the top of their voices to sell their things and a dark-skinned guy with a "Classic Travels" board at his back side to distribute tickets.

With a pretty long discussion about all those things I detailed earlier, and assured the bus is standing, we brought this ticket. This commission agent who took us there called in a "chhotu" to accompany us to the bus. He took us through a little basement only to make us realize that THERE WAS NO BUS. All he told us was to wait in an awefully small room, full of 20-25 people, until we are called at 9:00 pm WHEN THE BUS ARRIVES!!! We were blank. Absolutely fooled in spite of inquiring everything.

We went into the office of "Classic Travels" (next to the room above) to ask about why we were told the bus was there. This guy simply told us that the bus doesn't comes before 9:00 and its not their responsibility if the Bus arrives late, or doesn't arrives at all. My head was burning by that time. brother and I screamed at him, went straight to the spot where our tickets were issued, got hold of this commission guy and shouted. Try asking them for a refund, they will deduct 50% of the amount, which you get to see only after you have purchased the ticket.

Ok, Now for some real Gyaan:

• This is a "Thug" network of Commission Agents and a single Travel company which operates by the name of "Classic Travels", "Hari Travels" and most probably "Alok Travels" if I remember. 
• You will be promised about the parked bus at the back side, assured that it will leave on Time but you will not be taken to the bus before you purchase a ticket. Because THERE IS NONE.
• Finally, when you go through all of this which I described above, they will inform you that the bus is waiting at "Fatehpur", so all of you have to sit in a Phat-Phat car which will take you there. 
•  Now, if you really have no one to support or be with, you will end up at Fatehpur with no bus actually waiting. Because the real bus will arrive at 12:30 p.m (Mind you its pm) the next day.
• All you can do is either wait and curse yourself, or simply leave Rs.250 with them for nothing. Remember, 50% refundable?
• One more thing, while issuing your ticket, they will leave omit the printed time with pen (10:30) and write 9:30 over it which most of us wouldn't notice.

Lot of people who were duped this way, helplessly took to other options. The same guy who informed us that there will be no bus before 12;30 the next day, told us there is another Mercedes-Benz bus that will leave for Amritsar shortly. All my nephews had to do was to give an additional Rs. 250 and that's it. Off they went. A not-so-happy journey.

This whole Fairy-Tale is for one purpose only - to make sure none of you get stuck in this situation like we did. More so, this "Classic Travels" needs to be taught a lesson. Never ever slip into talks with any commission agent and follow him to misery. False promises, waste of time and waste of money will be the only consequence. Trust the Roadways on duty, because that's the best option if you want to be on-time and eased out while travelling. Be careful. Be cautious.