Volvo Bus India Secures Order For 122 Volvo 9600 Luxury From The Government Of Odisha
A successful order for 122 first-class luxury coaches has been placed with Volvo Bus India. The order comes under the Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) Scheme from the Government of Odisha's flagship programme, the Commerce and Transport (C&T) Department, to provide rural connectivity through the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).
Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, of VE Commercial Vehicles, said, "We are honoured to be selected as the preferred partner for this landmark initiative by OSRTC and the Government of Odisha. Over the past 25 years, Volvo Bus India has provided state-of-the-art, sustainable mobility solutions, and this order further solidifies our commitment to the citizens of Odisha.”
The Volvo 9600 buses will connect major districts and business hubs to the state capital, Bhubaneswar and Jagannath Dham Puri, carrying the names Jagannath Express and Laxmi Express. Volvo 9600 multi-axle 15-metre coaches will come equipped with pushback luxury seats, semi-sleepers, and sleeper configurations.
Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak, IPS, MD, OSRTC, said, “This will have a long-lasting impact on government initiatives that aim to transform transportation infrastructure and contribute to socio-economic development in rural and urban areas. This is one of the important measures taken by the government of Odisha for the protection and promotion of Jagannath culture in every village of Odisha.”
The Volvo 9600 platform is the tried, tested, fuel-efficient Volvo D8K (8-litre) engine, with a power output of 260 kW (350 hp) at the rate of 2200 RPM and a torque of 1350 Nm at the rate of 1200–1600 RPM. The fuel-efficient engine and its purpose-developed drivetrain are designed to minimise total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximise uptime for bus operators.
Suresh Chettiar, Senior Vice President of Volvo Bus India, said, “The premium luxury coaches ordered under the LAccMI Scheme will not only enhance the public transportation system in Odisha but will also serve Indian and international tourists that visit this beautiful and historic state and devotees visiting Jagannath Dham, Puri. Volvo 9600 buses with integrated bus body design are made in India at the state-of-the-art Volvo Bus India facility at Hosakote, Bangalore.”
The Volvo 9600 is the only OEM factory-built sleeper coach that complies with AIS 119 standards, a first in the industry and comes with many industry-leading features. The 122 Volvo 9600 coaches will come in three configurations: 55 pushback luxury seats, 51 semi-sleeper seats or 40 sleeper berths, to provide comfortable options for passengers. Safety features like the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), electronic disc brakes supported by the Electronic Braking System (EBS) and ABS are standard. The coach’s interiors are equipped with fire-retardant (FR)-grade materials. A fire detection and suppression system (FDSS) is provided for the engine and FAPS in the passenger area, the company stated in a release.
