Double-decker buses make a comeback in Kolkata

If you are nostalgic about double-decker bus and still have fond memories and want to have that recollection should come back so that you can cherish and feel the effervescence again, here is the good news!

The double-decker bus will be plying on the road in the ‘City of Joy’.  Generally, a double-decker bus has two storeys, used for mass transport and one can see the best view of the city from the top of a bus.

Earlier Calcutta had seen the double-decker buses, which were plying on the roads.  In the late 1920s, the double-decker buses introduced.  It has phased in the 1990s and the last double-decker bus set off in 2005. 

Now, Calcutta turns Kolkata will soon witness the doric double-decker buses after almost 15 years. The people are joyous on returning these buses and a bit excited to have a ride. It is a mixed feeling amalgamation of old and new.

It is a welcome move.  But this time the double-decker buses have undergone a sea change keeping aside the old look which can be attractive in colour and comfort to ride with more features.  This project has been initiated by the state tourism department named as Kolkata connect 2020.

The Tourism Department has been decided to get two double-decker buses that will take people around the tourists' spots of the city. With time, more buses will be added on and also the routes are being envisaged. It is the replicate of the London double-decker buses.

One can book these double-decker buses through online only which has already been initiated. Though there are two buses will be plying on the road, the time-table has fixed now.   https://rinkudas919.blogspot.com/search/label/Bravery

Ride Timings

The first bus ride will begin at 10.30 a.m. and end at 1.30 p.m. and the second bus ride will begin at 11.30 a.m. and end by 2.30 p.m.

You can see these type of buses are usually seen in London and here it will be used for hop-on-hop-off tours. The main purpose of these buses is for sight-seeing tours in Kolkata in the long term. The hop-on-hop-off bus service is based on selective routes.  It will pass by the iconic monuments like the Writers’ Building, GPO, and Victoria Memorial and later on when demand will rise more notable sights will be added.

To showcase the culture of Bengal, various local and well-known folk artists will perform on the bus, which will give an added allurement to the tourists.  It is presumed with this innovative idea, soon it gains popularity among commuters and become an integral part of the city's public transport and heritage.

These new double-decker buses will have salient features:

1. Destination boards
2. Automatic doors
3. Panic button
4. CCTV cameras
5. Open roof
6. Environment-friendly
7. More space for passengers

It will be painted blue and white and the seating capacity is 51 with only one door for entry and exit where 16 seats on the upper deck.  Earlier the buses were scrapped because they used to consume a lot of fuel and thus were uneconomical. They were polluting too.  Keeping in mind these factors, the new buses will be BS-IV compliant to regulate the pollution emitted by buses, which is a noticeable element.

It has been mutually agreed by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) and State Transport Department (STD) that WBTDC will maintain the buses while the STD will provide staff. Since these buses are aimed to step-up tourism, thus they are not used for commercial services.

The double-decker buses were a part of Kolkata's history and pride -- now these buses are embellished into a new avatar to boost tourism in the city of joy.

Be Smart while check-out of the Hotel

We are very thrilled whenever we are about to go on a vacation domestic or international.  Once we reach the destination may be individuals, family, groups or friends have to stopover in a hotel.  Whether it is a business or family trip. 

We all stay in a hotel, [three stars /five stars], according to the money we spend to look out for comfort and safety! But one must be cautious enough to have their confirmed bookings/receipt whether it is an online booking or you may physically present there.  Some of the hotels can play mischief and you can face a bad experience when you will land there – they may ask to deposit the money though you have paid online a month back and that exact time you do not have the requisite invoice to prove!

As you know during the travelling lot of logistics can be a source of stress since you have to move out from the airport and rushing to the hotel in and out, call an Uber sometimes or all the time, even sometimes off to a dinner reservation get to pass by or lost.

It is important to fixate one thing at a time instead of over-scheduling.  At least give room to breathe rather than hassling unnecessarily.  If we focus and do not show laxity in the approach, we can avoid some of the frivolous mistakes.

To make travels more enjoyable and to be like a hotel expert, we should know the exact procedure [dos and don’ts] of check-in and check-out of the hotel.

Here are the voluminous mistakes outlined to avoid when one is checking in and out of the hotel.  If you are aiming to amend these missteps, it brings a new phase and will transform you richly in experience whenever you are step-in the hotel.   Incisive Story (Sujit Kumar Das): Noble Mission (rinkudas919.blogspot.com)

1.Querying about resort fees

It is better to ask about resort fee, sometimes it builds additional cost and it is inevitable.  One should be apprised about these fees so that budget can be done precisely.  Asking resort fee is quite good though you know already about it.  Sometimes it clicks when resort fees are optional and you may be the fortunate one. 

2. Put in for early check-in or late check-out

Some of the hotels have their typical check-in and check-out rules.  On the safer side, it will be better to be more flexible for requesting an early check-in and check-out since some of the hotels have broach flexy time to do away with restrictive check-in and check-out times en masse. A message to the front desk will be useful. 

3. If you are wake up easily then not asking for a particular room

While choosing the room one is looking the ambience overlook the sleeping habits of ones [light sleep/heavy sleep].  It is pertinent that your sleeping habits dictate the room, you opt for because it gives relaxation after a hectic travelling.  If one is a light sleeper then he/she should always ask for a room afar from the noisy elevator and facing the least busy courtyard.    

4. Maintained a checklist before walk-out of the room

You may be in a loss if you are careless about your personal belongings and before check-out, it is cent per cent that you have left something behind the room.  So a mental checklist is imperative so that your phone, wallet, keys, etc. are with you.  Do a walk-through of your room before leaving and make sure to look at every corner during the final sweep of the room. 

5. Furnish your basal contact information at check-in counter  

The sooner one arrives at a hotel leaves requisite information to the front desk like email, address, number, etc.  So that hotel staff can contact easily via email or any information they want to share, can be accessible.  Also, you need not be taken along with the folio yourself anymore before check-out by simply asking them to send the sheet through email/address given at the time of check-in.  This way you can hop check-out and later on, you have a chance to glance through the folio to review charges on next schedule. 

6. Tip for the housekeeping before check-out

It is always better to give tip to the cleaning staff because they are doing as much as anyone can to keep the room clean & hygiene and make sure to have a great stay. If you have forgotten to give tip to the housekeeping, the best way to do is to leave a tip in the room before check-out.  We should have a gratuity for the cleaning staff.  

7. Vacate the room on time and avoid waiting in-line

If you are in a crisis of time then it is better to vacate the room [designated check-out time or previously agreed upon late check-out time] and handover the key cards. Keeping all the personal belongings checked, review the bill so that extra charges are not levied.  Giving an email/address to send after checking in, to just set out.  But if you want to review the bill in person at the front desk, then you have to wait in line for check-out.

8. Forget to send itemized bill while exit

While checking on a laptop, you cannot see the bill because of inbox mail is in a mess or hotel will not email the bill, then it is better to avoid tip and review the bill with the front desk before checking out. 

9. Felicitously asking for an upgrade

It is quite understandable on the day of arrival the front desk will have a lot of solicitude to assign rooms, though they have fewer nicer rooms, which they have kept for someone to put in.  Maybe you are one of them asking for the upgrade so nicely.

No doubt at this juncture travel seems to be difficult keeping in mind the Covid-19, but this stimulating trip idea can be a better planner ahead when you are ready for the next  venture.