On 27th Morning, I started my journey from Belgaum at 08:00 hrs from Belgaum central bus Terminus (CBT) to Kolhapur Central Bus Stand (CBS) on NWKRTC Saarige. At 10:45 hrs I reached Kolhapur CBS, a good 2 hours ahead of my next schedule at 12:45 hrs. As I deboarded the bus, I headed towards Royal Plaza, at Dhabolkar Chowk, which is close to Kolhapur CBS. I went to Neeta Office at Royal Plaza and got my ticket checked, the booking person at the office told me to be at the office cum pick up point at 12:30 pm. As I had enough time to spare and also was feeling hungry, I went to nearby restaurant to have the famous Kolhapuri Misal Pau. After filling up my stomach with the tasty bread misal and tea, I slowly moved towards the Neeta office at 12 noon and waited for my VOLVO B9R multiaxle to arrive. At 12:15 hrs, I got a sms from LM-Neeta regarding my bus number and the pick up man details. I got my bus number as MH04 FK 5758, till then I didn’t realize that there will be a change in the bus type that I am travelling by. 

At 12:40 hrs, the office person announced that the bus has arrived and we need to approach towards the bus in front of the Royal Plaza complex. Being anxious about the multiaxle I headed off initially towards it.

Here comes the surprise now – A BRIGHT RED COLOR HINO WAITING FOR DEPARTURE TO PUNE. I reconfirmed whether it’s the bus that we are going to Pune, checked the bus number once again, Yes of course it’s the same bus I am travelling to Pune :) I was surprised because Neeta HINO’s which have been brought on trial and later stayed in the fleet have been a trademark on Mumbai – Pune – Mumbai routes. They are never deployed on other long distance routes. 

Being excited about the HINO journey, on the first seat number A (Seat Number 1 in HINO) behind the driver, I was feeling this will be a great experience, since it was an unique experience to travel by a HINO biaxle which is only available with Neeta.

After boarding the bus, and confirmation of the boarding passengers, we started off from Royal Plaza at 12:50 hrs, a 5 minutes delay. Soon we reached Neeta Head office at Kavla Naka, where more passengers boarded the bus. I was very surprised to meet one of my known facebook friend and a Neeta employee from Neeta Mitramandal Chowk Swargate office – Ajay Salunkhe, who was also travelling from Kolhapur to Pune on the same bus. We exchanged greetings and Ajay bhai sat on the last but previous rear row of the bus. Later I too shifted to the seat beside him to share from bus information and have a chat with him. As you know it feels quite nostalgic to meet some person in reality, after knowing him from quite a long time online on facebook :)

Soon we crossed wattar and peth naka, towards Karad. As I was excited to travel on the HINO for the first time, I started observing the interiors and the feel of the suspension. Although I felt that the suspension was good (although I cant compare it with a VOLVO B9R suspension which is far more better than the HINO), it lacked the swift pick up after break and the manoeuvres on the highway while overtaking etc, which the VOLVO shows its superiority in.

Soon we crossed Kini and Taswade Toll Plaza’s, while I kept on chatting with Ajay bhai about Neeta multiaxles. Soon we crossed Karad and Satara and was about to reach Abhiruchi near Wai Phata, which is Neeta’s fixed halt on NH4 for a break. At about 14:45 hrs we reached Abhiruchi.

To my surprise, Ajay Bhai and the Neeta crew invited me for a lunch with them in Abhiruchi :)

Accepting the invitation I went along with them and had a nice chappati and rice lunch along with the Neeta people. I was also introduced to the Office in charge of Neeta abhiruchi office – Babu, who also joined us for lunch. After a nice chit chat along with delicious food, it was some time for a Neeta HINO photoshoot.

Here are the pics that I clicked at Abhiruchi : 

Me along with Ajay Bhai on right and Neeta Crew Members and Babu (Neeta Office in Charge at Abhiruchi)

Interior Pics of the HINO Selega :

After a nice photo session at abhiruchi, it was time to head off for Pune. At 15:30 hrs, after a 45 minutes halt at Hotel Abhiruchi, we set off for Pune. Soon we crossed the khambatki ghat tunnel and approached towards Pune. I was feeling very sleepy after the heavy meal in Abhiruchi and soon dozed off to sleep. The HINO had picked up speed till then and was cruising swiftly. It stopped for a petrol refill at a petrol pump on way to Pune at NH4. I woke up and took more pics of the HINO.

Here are some pics which I clicked at the fuel station, while the HINO biaxle was refueling : 

After refueling break, we again touched roads and at 16:50 hrs we started climbing the katraj ghat section. I was well awake at that moment, HINO was doing well in the ghat section, but of course it lacked the quick pick ups after applying breaks, the power steering lacked the swiftness of the VOLVO J Soon after crossing katraj ghat, we entered pune with the traffic snarling at 17:25 hrs. At 17:45 hrs, we reached mitramandal chowk, swargate finally.

I got down from the bus, I bid goodbye to Ajay Bhai, Nilesh Bhai (also a Neeta employee accompanying Ajay Bhai), and the friendly crew. It was a memorable and nice journey on Neeta HINO along with the friendly Neeta crew and Neeta Staff from Pune. The lunch was very delightful in abhiruchi along with the Neeta Staff.

I also handed over a pack of famous “Belgaum Kunda” sweets which I had carried with myself from Belgaum, to Ajay Bhai at the end of the journey as a gesture of good wishes :)

I will remember this journey as one of the best journey that I have ever had :)

Summary and Ratings :

Crew : Driver in Uniform, good behavior with passengers. Rating : 4.5/5

Bus maintenance : The bus had scratches on one side, outside maintenance was not good. Interiors were better. Good seats. AC cooling was decent. No mineral water bottles. Rating : 3/5

Speeding : Well and sedate driven at max speed of 90 kmph, No unusual overtakes, Good driving in Ghat section. Rating : 4.5/5

Overall Rating : 4/5

Conclusion and feedback :

Overall I will conclude it as one of the nice journey that I had, keeping in mind the great Hospitality and nice behavior of the Neeta Staff and Neeta Crew on board the NEETA HINO.

Secondly it was an experience travelling by HINO.

The bus needs to maintained well on the exterior, else I found the interiors well maintained with an ambient cooling air conditioning.

Will I recommend the operator on this route : YES WITH HINO :)