No AC, dropped elsewhere at midnight: Passenger wins compensation against travel company in consumer court

A passenger in Visakhapatnam was awarded ₹31,500 after a travel company failed to provide an AC bus and dropped him late at night, 9-10 km from his destination. The commission ruled against the company for both the service failure and safety concerns.

A Visakhapatnam consumer commission has ordered a travel company to pay ₹31,500 to a passenger. He paid for an AC bus but travelled in a bus without AC. The company also dropped him before his destination late at night, The Indian Express reported.

The passenger booked a journey from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry for ₹1,200. He paid the travel company through a UPI app. According to his complaint, the company promised an AC bus while accepting the booking. However, he was made to travel in a bus without air conditioning, the publication added.

He also said that the company had not given him a physical ticket. His complaint covered both the promised bus service and the location where he was dropped off.

The passenger said he was left near Kovvuru at around 12:30 AM. This was about 9-10 km before Rajahmundry, his intended destination. He alleged that the company made no proper arrangements for his onward journey.

He also said that it had shown no concern for his safety at that hour. According to him, the experience caused considerable inconvenience and hardship.

According to Express, the passenger initially sought a refund of ₹500 as a “reasonable settlement”. He said the company refused his request and behaved rudely. He further alleged that its behaviour was intimidating.

He then approached the National Consumer Helpline to resolve the matter. However, his complaint was closed for procedural reasons without providing a solution. The dispute later came before the Visakhapatnam District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.

The commission included President Gudla Tanuja and members Varri Krishna Murthy and Rahimunnisa Begum. It noted that the travel company had received notice but did not appear. The 15 September order was, therefore, passed without the company's participation.

The commission examined evidence of the passenger's payment to the travel company. It found that ₹1,200 had been deducted from his account. This established that he had paid the company for the journey.

Company held responsible

The commission held the company responsible for failing to provide the promised AC bus. It said the company could not avoid responsibility after accepting payment for that service.

“The opposite party cannot shy away from their liability for making the complainant travel by a non-AC bus instead of an AC bus for which the fare/consideration was received by the opposite party,” The Indian Express quoted the September 15 ex parte order as stating.

Dropping the passenger at Kovvuru instead of Rajahmundry was another failure in service. The commission noted that the fare had covered travel to Rajahmundry.

The company was directed to refund ₹500 towards the difference in bus charges. It was also ordered to pay compensation and ₹1,000 towards legal costs.

Including a compensation of ₹30,000, the total amount awarded to the passenger was ₹31,500. The decision held the company responsible for both failures during the booked journey.

About the Author

Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.

^{Get Latest real-time updates}

Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news.

HomeNewsIndiaNo AC, dropped elsewhere at midnight: Passenger wins compensation against travel company in consumer court