Bhubaneswar: In a significant enhancement of passenger road transport connectivity in the state of Odisha, Volvo Bus India has successfully secured an order for 122 premium luxury coaches. The order comes under the Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) Scheme, a flagship program initiated by the Government of Odisha’s Commerce & Transport (C&T) Department to provide rural connectivity through Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).
The LAccMI Scheme, manifests the Odisha government’s visionary approach to elevate the state’s public transportation infrastructure and provide citizens with a world-class public mobility experience. The globally state-of-art Volvo 9600 Buses will connect major districts and business hubs to the state capital, Bhubaneswar and Jagannath Dham Puri and carry the name of Jagannath Express & Laxmi Express. Volvo 9600 multi-axle 15m coaches will come equipped with pushback Luxury Seater, Semi-sleeper and Sleeper configurations.
Speaking on the landmark order Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., expressed enthusiasm to be a part of the State’s flagship Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiate (LAccMI). He said, “We are honored 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.”
Mr. Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak, IPS, MD, OSRTC shared his enthusiasm on the landmark order “The collaboration between Volvo Bus India and OSRTC for the deployment of Premium buses is a testament to the shared vision of creating a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation network. This will have a long-lasting impact on government initiatives that aim to transform transportation infrastructure and contribute to the socio-economic development in rural and urban areas. This is one of the important measures taken by Govt. of Odisha for the protection and promotion of Jagannath culture in every village of Odisha.”
Mr. Suresh Chettiar, Senior Vice President Volvo Bus India concluded, “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.”
At the heart of the Volvo 9600 platform is the tried, tested, powerful and fuel-efficient Volvo D8K (8-litre) engine, delivering a power of 260kW (350hp) @ 2200 RPM and a torque of 1350 Nm @ 1200-1600 RPM. The fuel-efficient engine along with its purpose-developed drivetrain is designed to minimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and maximize uptime for bus operators. Volvo 9600 is the only OEM factory-built sleeper coache that complies with AIS 119 standards, a first in the industry, and comes with a host of 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 Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Powerful Electronic Disc Brakes supported by Electronic Braking System (EBS) & ABS are standard. The coach’s interiors are equipped with Fire Retardant (FR) grade materials, Fire Detection & Suppression System (FDSS) is provided for engine and FAPS in passenger area.