Having Any Trouble Traveling in Private City Buses, Just WhatsApp Message to 7996999977

Having Any Trouble Traveling in Private City Buses, Just WhatsApp Message to 7996999977

Mangaluru: The President of Dakshina Kannada District Private Bus Association Dilraj Alva has come up with an initiative of launching a new WhatsApp number, where commuters facing any trouble or inconveniences travelling in private City buses can send their grievances through messages to the WhatsApp number, which is 7996999977. Already stickers have been stuck on private city buses with the WhatsApp helpline number for the convenience of the commuters, with their complaints. Commuters can share their positive or negative experience or suggestions through this number so that the Association can rectify the issues.

Dilraj Alva President-Dakshina Kannada District Private Bus Association

Speaking to Team Mangalorean Dilraj Alva said, “Ever since we introduced this WhatsApp number we have been receiving quite a few complaints, suggestions, and quite a few compliments also. Around 75% of the private city buses have been already been pasted with the WhatsApp number sticker, while the rest among the 350 buses that ply in the city, stickers will be pasted soon. The idea of introducing a WhatsApp based grievance redressal mechanism was mooted after we received several complaints through the Police Commissioner’s Phone-In Programme held every Friday at His office. Most of the complaints received after this WhatsApp was launched included conductors not issuing tickets, lack of service, arrogance of conductors, and many other issues.”

He further said, “Commuters can also if seats reserved for women, senior citizens or physically challenged are occupied by others and not given to the deserving people. Similarly, they can text us if they found shrill horns or any other violations. At the moment we are receiving close to a dozen messages every day. Once we receive any message we forward it to the bus owners concerned and follow it up to see that the grievances or suggestions of the passengers are looked into. In particular cases, we call the conductors or bus drivers directly and give them the necessary directions to solve the problems and warn them not to repeat such offences again. While many of the complaints are from senior citizens, we also receive a few from youngsters also”.

This initiative by Alva is an attempt to strike a chord between the commuters and the service provider, and it has been working good since its launch a few days ago. Speaking about the loud horns that many complain, Dilraj said, “There are city vacuum horns also called as Green Horns, recommended by the RTO, which are permissible to use. Also, the battery horns may be quite loud, which we will look into it to reduce the sound. Ticketing system has been a practical problem as some personnel would have to learn to adopt it, while others were facing a problem with the battery issue. The manufacturers have assured us that they will get it fixed soon. Commuters have to bear with us patiently until then”.

“With the data, drivers and conductors will be divided into sectors (for instance, Ullal-Thokkuttu -Talapady sector; Bondel sector; and Konaje sector) and each sector will be numbered. The staff in these sectors will be sensitized batch-wise. The association has taken it itself to make necessary arrangements for the long-term changes. It won’t be a damp squib. An office of the association is already set up in Milagres Mansion-Hampankatta-Mangaluru where a personnel is appointed exclusively to deal with the complaints and resolve them at the grass root level. We are trying our best with all kinds of methods to run a smooth and trouble-free bus service, and in the meantime, we also seek the support of the people,” he added.