Taxpayers foot lavish trip to India for myki boss Myki boss Bernie Carolan. THE boss of myki enjoyed a number of luxuries on a trip to India to look at the troubled smartcard's overseas operations. Transport Ticketing Authority CEO Bernie Carolan flew business class with Malaysia Airlines, which features a chef-on-call service and French champagne, with the taxpayer footing the $4700 bill. He visited the offices of system operator Kamco's parent company in Hyderabad and the office of key subcontractor ACS in Bangalore during the three-day, $5715 visit. Mr Carolan stayed at the plush Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, which has three swimming pools and rooms with so-called "heavenly beds" and rainshowers. Documents obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws show Mr Carolan also stayed at the opulent five-star Zuri Whitefield Bengaluru, where he enjoyed Pringles, cashews and a KF Ultra beer from the room mini-bar. Swiss-based ACS provides myki machines, software and maintenance services for the $1.5 billion smartcard system. A recommendation from consultant Alco for greater visibility over software development processes and testing procedures in India was given as the reason for the trip, the documents revealed. RMIT University electrical and computer engineering senior lecturer Dr Mark Gregory said it was standard practice for companies to visit contractors. Some had problems with Indian and Chinese contractors because of distance, miscommunication and different expectations. "Myki is a good example of how that process can go wrong," Dr Gregory said. It is like, 'Oh geez we've got 12 months (before it replaces Metcard), let's all get together and talk about what we've got to do in those 12 months, what have we got to finalise?'  The Public Transport Users Association said Victorians needed to know the real-life benefits of the trip. PTUA president Tony Morton said the trip appeared to be a scramble to fix software problems before the transition and Victorians needed to know real-life outcomes. Public Transport Victoria spokesman Adrian Darwent said such trips were common practice for the management of major projects. "The trip was beneficial in consolidating relationships and reaffirming the commitment to complete the rollout of myki in 2013," he said. Business class flights $4728 Accommodation at the Westin Hyderabad Mindspace $233.72 Accommodation and mini bar snacks at the Zuri Whitefield Bengaluru$193.96 Taxi to and from Melbourne Airport $134.31