[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by arvi86

The bus was being operated by a popular company called 'Sethumeena Travels'.

The most funny thing was that it was an A/C Sleeper. The side and rear of the bus was perfectly alright. But those guys have driven it without windshield all night (I was told from Madurai to Chennai). Now, what do we do of these guys?

Really bold guys. Looks like the bus itself is not very well maintained. In your opinion, Which is better, cancel the bus, wait for a spare bus to arrive or just drive with out windsheild....

[julupani]

First of all, have to give credit to the driver, having driven at night with the amount of windchill he must have had to bear.

As for the missing windscreen, considering an almost complete lack of damage on the front especially that the beading around the windscreen is completely intact, i think it is highly unlikely that the cause was a accident. Not to mention that the passenger had no idea of the glass breaking

I dont think that these windscreens use laminated glass, i think the glass just broke due to a sharp impact at a vulnerable location. Its not exactly a tough proposition to break such a large piece of glass. You can actually see the glass having completely sheared of the beading if you look at the picture full size.

[arvi86]

@ smashnerd - I guess the bus didn't had the windshield when it started itself. So its not a case of an accident enroute. Usually some bus operators do this. They pick up passengers on a service to Chennai in the defective buses itself and do the repair works in Chennai.

@ teamveevee - Its better to cancel the service, wait for a spare bus and then pick up the passengers instead of endangering the lives of the driver and passengers alike. For those operators, arranging a spare bus isn't all that difficult.

@ julupani - Exactly. The driver has to be credited for driving all night with chill wind blasting through his face.

[Ashley2]

I strongly think the windscreen should have fallen while it hits a speed breaker or some thing. I also doubt the broken front facia could also made this happen.

[julupani]

I doubt that, unless there was a previously cracked windscreen. Look at the beading, it seems to be in perfect shape all round.

[prmd_cochin]

TN Bus plying between Palani and Pollachi

Inter State private operator between Munnar and Udamalai

Sivasakthi at Irinjalakuda

Lal Brothers overtaking TN Govt bus at Rajakkad.

[smashnerd]

Originally Posted by prmd_cochin

Lal Brothers overtaking TN Govt bus at Rajakkad.

Weird! I've see it regularly at 7 a.m. at Kottayam on the NH220. It probably runs two permits. Else, how is it at Rajakkad with a Kottayam board in broad daylight?

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by prmd_cochin

TN Bus plying between Palani and Pollachi

There is no service between Palani and Pollachi by this operator.
I doubt this should be tourist vehicle heading towards pollachi from palani.
From Reg No it should be from Tanajavour!

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

There is no service between Palani and Pollachi by this operator.
I doubt this should be tourist vehicle heading towards pollachi from palani.
From Reg No it should be from Tanajavour!

That is indeed a tourist bus. Notice the Ayyappa photo on the grille, and the garlands around. Could be a Sabarimala pilgrim party.

[DRIV3R]

Originally Posted by arvi86

I accompanied my colleague to pick up his friend coming to Chennai by a private bus. As we were waiting for the bus to arrive, this monster came and stopped and people started getting down. Only when getting down, some people noticed that the bus didn't have the front windshield and were shocked. The bus was being operated by a popular company called 'Sethumeena Travels'.

The most funny thing was that it was an A/C Sleeper. The side and rear of the bus was perfectly alright. But those guys have driven it without windshield all night (I was told from Madurai to Chennai). Now, what do we do of these guys?

Actually it's Rathimeena travels. It once had a good name and market. Here is one similar bus of theirs which I had captured long back.

[prmd_cochin]

Originally Posted by smashnerd

Weird! I've see it regularly at 7 a.m. at Kottayam on the NH220. It probably runs two permits. Else, how is it at Rajakkad with a Kottayam board in broad daylight?

Its not broad day light, its late in the evening around 6 PM.

[prmd_cochin]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

There is no service between Palani and Pollachi by this operator.
I doubt this should be tourist vehicle heading towards pollachi from palani.
From Reg No it should be from Tanajavour!

Could be. I got it while returning from Thanjavur.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Quite a few operators in TN use their spare buses under "special permits" for running contract routes to Sabaramalai during the season. AFAICT, this is permitted; as long as they pay taxes for duration of permit and also take special permits for each trip.

[prmd_cochin]

The workshop of PPK sons in Kothamangalam. Earlier they used to build their own buses here, but then later own moved to other bosy builders like Supriya. the first three buses are their cancelled routes. The first one used to run Cherthala - Silent Valley LS and the second one used to be their Aluva- Kanthalur LS, the third one Aluva - Koviloor FP. The fourth and last one are their new buses, both waiting for permits. The third one used to run as spare on the Ernakulam - Bison valley route.

[Jimmyjosek]

What would be the future of PPK and sons with their main man PK Sajeev behind the bars for one year, along with old Kerala Electricity Minister Balakrishna Pillai?

Another of PPK. This is one of their oldest routes, Cherthala-Munnar-Bisonvalley LS. Their older buses used to look so beautiful. This new bus, probably built at some local workshop like Supriya looks like some ordinary bus